Chuckers Ousted in Semi's at Victoria Day Classic

The 4th annual RCBA Queen Victoria Wood Bat Classic went off without a hitch this past weekend as the weather was super and the RCBA parent volunteer group organized and executed a flawless event. 

12 teams, including top teams from Alberta (Okotoks Dawgs and Spruce Grove White Sox), assembled at Blundell Park for a full weekend of Bantam AAA action in what has now become the premier Bantam AAA tournament in BC.

After wins over Burnaby (11-6), and Spruce Grove (8-6) in pool play, the Bantam AAA Chuckers entered the Sunday playoff portion of the annual May long weekend tournament in an optimistic mood.

Sunday's opponent was the strong White Rock Tritons.  In a well played game by both teams, the Chuckers were able to capitalize on a 4-run first inning, cruising to a 6-3 win.  Ryder Mavis and Kallan Collet led the way on the mound, keeping the tough Tritons hitters at bay.

Monday's semi-final had the home squad once again facing the visitors from Spruce Grove.  The other semi-final pitted the Abbotsford Angels, who knocked off Okotoks 3-2 in the first playoff game, versus the Victoria Black Eagles, who dispatched the favorite Cloverdale Spurs 1-0 in their playoff opener.

Spruce Grove received some excellent pitching as a young left-hander pitched his way through several jams to keep the Richmond hitters off-balance.  The final was Spruce Grove 7, Richmond 3.  Meantime, Victoria made it to the final outlasting Abbotsford in an 8-inning game, that one ending by a 6-4 count.  The final was then won by the visitors from Alberta, 4-2, making the White Sox the first out of province winners to take the Queen Victoria title.

All in all a fantastic event, with full kudos to the Richmond parent group who went above and beyond to make the tournament run so smoothly.