2019 LMBA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Pirates Dynasty Rolls on With Sixth Straight 45+ Championship
Game # 350 marked the end of the LMBA's 25th Anniversary season but the Vancouver Pirates continued their reign as LMBA 45+ champions with their sixth straight playoff title following a convincing 13 - 1 victory over a game White Rock Legends squad. The third-seeded Pirates had all cannons firing on a sunny Saturday at Holly Park as they jumped out to a 10 run lead after the first two innings. Pirates hurlers Kevin Gordon and Rick Morrow kept the heavy hitting Legends bats quiet with some very solid pitching - the Pirates defense played air-tight baseball and the entire batting lineup contributed with many timely blows. Congratulations to the White Rock Legends who won the division's regular league title but Saturday proved to be a very tough day - their acknowledgement of the Pirates performance on the day was very congratulatory. Special thanks to Don Sytko who has completely transformed Holly Park into an outstanding playing facility - thanks to both teams for expressing their appreciation to Don and for observing a pre-game moment of silence in memory of Warren Karsgaard.
Whalley Chiefs Claim 4th LMBA 18+ Championship
In a dominant all round performance the Whalley Chiefs claimed their 4th LMBA championship in the 18+ Division final played at Latrace Field on Sunday, September 15th. The Chiefs (18+ Mathers Division champs) met the South Delta Padres (18+ Bunnett Division champs) with both teams riding three game winning streaks as they advanced through three rounds of playoffs.
The Padres jumped out to a 1 – 0 lead in the top of the first but a dominant pitching performance by Chiefs’ hurlers Jesse Peters and Jordan Kissock limited the Padres to one additional run while the Chiefs bats came alive scoring 8 runs with the entire line up chipping in.
The Chiefs became the LMBA’s first team to win 4 championships at the 18+ Division level adding to titles won in 2013, 2015, and 2017.
Congratulations to both teams for an outstanding 2019 season!
MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER GAME
The 25th Anniversary season 30+ championship final featured the two remaining original teams that have been part of the LMBA since 1994. The Howe Sound Hounds (8-time LMBA 30+ champs) met the Richmond Rainiers (7-time LMBA 30+ champs) in yet another championship final.
Both teams had squeaked out narrow semi-final wins over younger teams in the LMBA’s 30 + division. The Rainiers defeated the Burnaby Brewers by a 9-8 score in a back and forth game at Queen’s Park Stadium while the Hounds staged an incredible comeback win over the Langley Knights by scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge the younger squad by an identical 9 – 8 score.
The long-time rivals slugged it out in a close game with the Hounds prevailing by a 10-8 score claiming their 9th LMBA championship in the process. They jumped out to a quick 3 – 0 lead and kept tacking on runs throughout the game while turning back a determined Rainiers squad which kept chipping away.
Prior to the start of the game both teams observed a moment of silence in memory of Jimmy Lawson a member of a combined Hounds/Rainiers team that won a major competition in Arizona in 2009. Both teams have contributed much to the LMBA over their 25 year tenure and were recognized earlier this year for their roles in our growth and development.
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DEDICATION
WARREN Karsgaard
The Lower Mainland Baseball Association was greatly saddened by the passing of one of our original members, Warren Karsgaard on February 14, 2019. Warren was in attendance at a meeting sponsored by an American adult baseball group in July, 1994. When the group was unable to start up a recreational baseball league for adults, Warren and several others decided to start the Lower Mainland Baseball Association on their own. Warren, along with others, organized try-outs at Central Park in Burnaby, helped set up an Executive and served for several years as league registrar. His background experience in senior and youth baseball was invaluable to a group finding its way. For the next 24 years Warren participated as a player, manager, and Executive member and his contributions were significant in the growth and development of the league.
When original players were starting to “age out” of the 30+ Division, Warren worked closely with Ray Edger to start up a very successful 45+ division, thereby extending playing careers for everyone. Warren volunteered for 40 years in Richmond Minor Baseball and was deservedly recognized for his efforts by BC Minor Baseball, Richmond City Baseball, and the City of Richmond.
The Lower Mainland Baseball Association is proud to dedicate our 2019 season in memory of Warren Karsgaard.
A baseball life . . . . . well lived!
