Newmarket Hawks baseball coach Matt Richard said the team has always had a strong camaraderie.
He said plenty of AAA senior teams have had a strong bond as they played, which helped them perform better when it came down to crunch time.
But this season is a bit different for them, Richard said.
“Now I believe we have the talent to match the team mentality now,” he said. “We’ve got the talent to match the team on every field.”
The Newmarket Hawks senior AAA team is off to a strong season within the Greater Toronto Baseball League. With a 12-2 record, they sit atop the standings in the six-team league. That dominance has earned the team notoriety, with the blog Canadian Amateur Baseball Central ranking them as the top men’s AAA team in the country July 15.
“The Newmarket club has had a pretty incredible run,” the website said.
Richard called the recognition flattering but also deserved.
“We’ve beaten some of the top teams in the province,” he said. “For what the guys have done this year, I do think it’s deserved. They’ve performed that well.”
Their top hitters have included Bryn Sanford (11 for 22), Darcy Moore (10 for 32) and Troy McLaughlin (9 for 26). On the pitching side, Josh Appel (2-0, 1.593 ERA), Christian Mullen (2-0, 1.59 ERA) and Andrew Raponi (1-0, 1.50 ERA) have led the squad.
But one performer is beyond the field. Richard said the team has also had motivation in the passing of Dan Lehmkuh, a prior leader of the squad who passed away in a car collision Dec. 13.
“I do believe the guys are playing with that in mind next year. Dan was our leader. He was a battler on the field,” he said. “I truly do believe he is still playing with us right now, an angel in the outfield.”
The team is preparing for provincial playoffs the weekend of Aug. 3 in Windsor. If they can emerge first, they will punch their ticket to a play in national championships.
“One game at a time,” he said. “We’re not gonna be able to test out the waters in the shallow end, we’re diving right in with the sharks. Obviously, the outlook is very optimistic. I know what we’re capable of doing.”
The passing of Lehmkuh has brought its challenges, Richard said.
“It’s been a fun year, but it’s been a tough year. Lots of old memories creeping up,” Richard said. “That’s why these guys become family.”