Oatway proves he can hit the long ball, play the long romantic game

Grade 10 Gemini forward Stephen Araoye (centre) picked up the assist on Tillsonburg’s goal following this play during a 3-1 TVRA semi-final loss to CASS. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Tillsonburg Gemini first baseman Odin Oatway proved he could both hit the long ball and play the long romantic game through a 5-0 Thames Valley Regional Athletics baseball shutout victory over St. Thomas Parkside Monday, May 11 at Tillsonburg’s Sam Lamb Park.

Going ‘yard’ twice was impressive enough on its own for the Grade 12 power hitter, but his curtain call revealed a side reaching well beyond slugging ability. In the game’s immediate aftermath, he pulled a bouquet of peonies which had been sitting in a vase on a shelf, and a homemade sign out of the dugout, surprising Brooklyn Diaz with an over-the-top, over the fence-inspired promposal.

“She was very surprised,” said Oatway, happy that her excitement was backed up with a ‘yes.’

Oatway was in part inspired by assistant coach Brett Ferguson’s recounting of Gemini tennis player Cole Toth’s ‘tennis champions make the best prom dates’ sign of years previous. Toth had finished it before competing, backing its prediction up with a victory and successful promposal to Sydney Moore. Similarly, Oatway’s sign inspired his performance, resulting in the first two home runs of his baseball career. He’s hit the fence ‘probably eight times’ and parked a half-dozen long balls foul last year with the London Badgers, but never cleared the fence in fair territory.

“To do it twice in one game, they (his teammates) went pretty crazy.”

His home runs were no-doubters according to coach Derek Partlo, the promposal less certain perhaps, although its odds helped along by the fact Oatway and Diaz are dating.

“I had a good feeling,” Oatway said, “especially after that game. How could you say no?”

Oatway planned on pulling out the sign and flowers, regardless of his performance. Admittedly, the two dingers and Diaz’ reaction made the experience much more satisfying than if he’d gone 0-3 with a couple of strikeouts.

“It was probably one of the best days of my life, to be honest.”

The promposal is not the first Partlo has been associated with as a coach.

“It’s much more effective when you hit two monstrous home runs,” he observed.

It is however the first time any Gemini baseball player has done that in a game Partlo continued, a fitting milestone for a season-long team leader.

“He’s a gamer and a big part of why we finished in first place.”

The Gemini closed out their regular season Tuesday, May 12 with a 4-3 win over Woodstock Huron Park, finishing at 5-2 with those same Huskies, but taking first place on head-to-head record. Tillsonburg was scheduled to open playoff quarter-finals Tuesday, May 19 at Dorchester against the Woodstock CI Red Devils.

“We have set ourselves up for a nice playoff run, but it will not be an easy task,” Partlo concluded. “Overall, the league is much more competitive this year.

“Not to be cliche, but we will take it one game at a time and leave it all out on the field.”

TVRA Southeast Boys’ Soccer semi-final

College Avenue 3, Gemini 1

The Tillsonburg Gemini faced two opponents in their TVRA Southeast Tier II semi-final Thursday, May 14 at Woodstock’s Cowan Soccer Park.

First, a solid Woodstock College Avenue Knights opponent, and secondly, a powerful wind in their faces during the decisive second half.

“The wind was really against us,” said forward Marshal Delaere. “We really tried to power through it.”

The Gemini were able to do that at least partially, Delaere capitalizing on a beautiful set-up after the ball was worked down the right side of the pitch by Stephen Araoye. The leading Gemini scorer on the season was confronted by defender Owen Procenko and the Knights keeper, but managed to get the ball through to Delaere directly in front of the open net. The latter made no mistake, squaring accounts at one early in the second half.

“It was a really nice pass,” Delaere credited.

College Avenue counter-punched shortly after however. Grade 9 Gemini keeper Ethan Gazley made an initial diving save on a curling shot from the right wing, but the Knights’ Nathan Ugar was there to tap in what would stand as the game-winner. Kaleb Krupp headed home a Santiago Marroquin corner at the back post, rounding the 3-1 final.

“It was a little disappointing,” Delaere admitted. “But we really worked hard.”

“A good season,” added Gazley, busy on the day with an additional half-dozen quality saves. “I think we grew.

“Started with a loss but came back and won a couple.”