The Prince George LTN Contracting Peewee Knights won
three of five games, losing two one-run games, in a busy May long weekend trek
to the Okanagan.
On Saturday, the Knights, the all-star team of
2000/2001-born players in the Prince George Youth Baseball Association, handled
the Rutland Rays by scores of 16-5 and 19-2, both games ending after five
innings.
Lefty Raymond Prive was the winning pitcher in the first
game, with Zach Swanson earning the victory in the second game. Tommy Kreitz
and Ryan Hampe, a pair of left-handed hitters, blasted home runs in the second
game.
On Sunday, the Knights played two games against the
Vernon Canadians, splitting the double-header. In the opener, the Knights won
4-2 as Ajay Nickolet of Mackenzie fanned seven, allowing just four hits and
walking none, in six innings. Centre fielder Ryan Hampe was 2-3 with two runs
driven in, a run scored, and two key catches in the outfield in the final
inning with Vernon threatening.
In the later game, which ended in near-darkness, the
Knights surrendered six runs in the bottom of the seventh to fall 16-15 in a
slugfest that saw the Knights outhit the Canadians 15-11. Matt Siemens was the
losing pitcher in relief of Ryan Hampe, Seth Lapre and Liam Campbell.
On Monday, in the last of the five games, a walkoff homer
by Dawson Chase of Vernon gave the home team another come-from-behind win,
13-12. The combined seven walks given up by pitchers Quinten Astorino and Zach
Swanson helped Vernon overcome impressive home runs by Ajay Nickolet and Brevin
Gervais, the latter measured at 340 feet.
"We're happy we outhit the opposition in every game,
the approach the kids have at the plate is much improved and we did a very good
job offensively," said coach Jim Swanson. "Our defence was not as
sharp as it's capable of being, no concerns there at this point because we know
it's a strength, but our pitchers need to be ready to battle through tough
stretches. Baseball is not easy, it's a tough game that you have to rise above
adversity. Vernon is a very good team, a well-coached team, that has beaten
some of the best teams in the province this year."
Nickolet ended the weekend with 12 hits, and Mikey Schwab
had five extra-base hits and was perfect in six stolen base attempts.
The Knights are finalizing plans to have Vernon visit
Prince George on the June 15-16 weekend, with details to be announced, but will
likely mean two games Saturday evening and two Sunday morning, at Spruce City
Stadium, a preview of the provincials later in the summer.
The next action for the Knights is a short turnaround --
in Burnaby this coming weekend at the prestigious John Main Memorial Classic
tournament, featuring 16 of the best peewee teams in the province, including
Vernon. The Knights face Vancouver Minor on Friday at 6 pm, then play White
Rock at noon on Saturday followed by a 6 pm game with Newton, all games at
Kensington Park. Pool winners advance to the playoffs.
The Knights are the host team for the AAA Peewee
Provincial Championship, the crown jewel of the B.C. Minor Baseball Association
championship series. That event goes Aug. 8-11 at Spruce City Stadium, the
first time that park will have a mound installed.
Players on the Knights for this weekend were Seth Lapre,
Ryan Hampe, Quinten Astorino, Mikey Schwab, Zach Swanson, Matt Siemens, Tommy
Kreitz, Brevin Gervais, Liam Campbell, Raymond Prive and Ajay Nickolet. Brett
Mero and Soren Erricson were unable to make the weekend series. Coaches are Jim
Swanson, Denny Astorino, Brad Kreitz, Keith Hampe, Todd Schwab and Ray Siemens.
For more information, contact Jim Swanson, 778-349-0570,
or see boxscores at the team website, www.ballcharts.com/PGpeeweeKnights Stats will be posted following the John Main
tournament.