June 22, 2021

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

We’re not sure where Max Rowley will be in three years or five years.

Yet, on Saturday May 29 he threw the first pitch to open the season in British Columbia. Rowley also knocked in four hits on the day as Cloverdale Red edged Cloverdale Black 12-5 in 13U AA play.

Keith Harms picked up the victory for Cloverdale Red, while Riley Walters led the hit parade with three hits.

PLAY BALL !: Coffin-continues to drive the Chevies in PEI

PLAY BALL II: Cloverdale opens BC, Coquitlam sweeps, Deagle goes deep

PLAY BALL III: New Brunswick underway as Mudcats, Alpines, Fisher Cats, Cardinals win

PLAY BALL IV: Prairie Pirates had no Chantze against Price, Sask5 Giants

PLAY BALL V: 75th season kicks off at St. Pat’s Ball Park in St. John’s

PLAY BALL VI: Foothills off to fastest start in Alberta, Sergent gives orders

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Around BC Premier League diamonds ... the Coquitlam Reds swept a pair from the Whalley Chiefs as play got underway June 16. The Reds took the opener 4-1 and the second game 8-1.

The North Delta Blue Jays blanked the White Rock Tritons 6-0. The North Shore Twins blanked the UBC Thunder 2-0.

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The GMs requested that Premier games this season be “exhibition” in nature. There will be unlimited subs, re-entry, etc. to allow to get as many innings as they can for players.  Because of this, not all teams are keeping statistics as they may not be accurate.   Only game scores will be kept.

Two sixth-inning runs gave the Langley Blaze a 2-1 win over the Abbotsford Cardinals in Game 2, after Abbottsford won Game 1 5-4.

In Game 1 ... Nathan Kirkpatrick and Jaden Lamothe combined to drive in three runs in the third inning.

Tom Poole started the game for the Blaze, allowing two runs on five hits over three innings, striking out four. Caleb Cassie and Caden Welch worked in relief, throwing 2 1/3 innings and 1 2/3 innings respectively.

Nolan Sparks went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Langley.

In Game 2 ... Tom Poole led off with a single, then one out later, Pierce Radke singled and two wild pitches led to the Blaze’s first run. Caleb Cassie singled on a hard grounder to right for the tie breaker. It was one of two hits by Cassie.

The Blaze trio of Jacob Zibin (four innings, zero hits, seven strikeouts), Reece Usselman (two innings, five whiffs) and Mason Chien (one inning, for the save) combined on the two hitter. So 12 whiffs for the Blaze and eight for the Cardinals pitchers.

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The Victoria Mariners and the Victoria Eagles split their opening doubleheader at Layritz Park in Victoria. The Eagles took the opener 13-10, but lost the nitecap 10-8.

In Game 1 ... The Mariners were led at the plate by Jayden Malinowski who had a three hits, including a double and three runs scored. Sam Shaw also had a double, walk and pair of runs scored.

For the Eagles, Tyler Burton had a pair of hits, while Jack Swinton doubled a man home in the first and added three singles. Dominic Biello also had two hits.

Mariners’ Game 1 starter Jaxon Smith-Peterson allowed three in the first and then put up four zeros. The M’s responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring three off Eagles starter Oliver Mabee, a cousin of Henry Mabee, who pitched in the Chicago White Sox organization.

In Game 2 ... the Eagles put up a three-spot in the first, one in the second and six in the fourth to go up 10-2 with starter Owen Luchies on the mound.

Biello soared highest with the Eagles hitting a pair of triples, a single and knocking in a pair. Mabee had three hits, including a double, in the nitecap.

For the M’s, Sam Shaw had three hits and an RBI, while Dylan Graw had two of hits.

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The Parksville Royals and the Mid-Island Pirates split their doubleheader as well. Mid-Island took the opener 4-3 and Parksville bounced back with an 8-7 win. Both games were decided in the winners final at-bat.

In the opener ... Parksville took a 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh. It did not work out well.

Lucas Laukannen and Austin Gurney opened with bases on balls and Robert Gurney reached on a bunt single, loading the bases. Nate Thomasson was hit by pitch, forcing in a run, Mack Homeniuk walked to force in another run and the Arjan Manhas knocked in what proved to be the game winner with an infield single.

Parksville’s Ryan Deagle hit a two-run homer in the first and later singled.

Ellis Hayes-Vugteveen earned the victory on the mound for the Pirates, striking out four in his two innings. Nick Robinson threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.

Cam Goodman took the loss for Parksville.

In Game 2 ... Parksville scored a walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh when Ethan Dean drew a walk with the bases loaded. Thomas Plant had led off with a walk, then Max Kolopenuk did the same Tyler Kolopenuk loaded the bases with a single, setting the stage for Dean.

Breydan Riecker gained the win pitching two innings, allowing two runs on zero hits, striking out two. Trevor Carter threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Liam McNamee started the game for Parksville. McNamee went three innings, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out three

Nate Thomasson took the loss for Mid Island Pirates. Mack Homeniuk started, allowing four runs with Arjan Manhas pitching 3 2/3 innings, with 12 first-pitch strikes, while Nathan Lavallee worked two innings.

Tyler Kolopenuk had three hits and drove in a pair of runs for Parksville in Game 2, while Max Kolopenuk had two safeties and drove home two. Carter Hall had two hits.