2012 Canadian Nationals News

In the first game Team Canada fell behind 3 - 0 to Newfoundland.  Newfoundland who was allowed two overage players to be on their team and pitched their U17 Canada Cup pitcher Tyler Boland.  Team B.C. left 6 runners on in the first 3 innings but finally knocked Boland out in the 5th inning when they scored 5 runs.  Team B.C. kept up the torrid pace scoring another 5 in the 5th and 3 in the 6th to get the mercy win.  Huntley had the start but Burgmann picked up the win when he came in and struck out 8 batters in 2 and a 3rd innings.  Skuija came in for the mercy save.  Espig playing with an injured stomach muscle showed a lot of guts hitting a triple and a homerun but left the game and will be staying in the hospital overnight for observation.

In the night cap Team B.C. came from behind 2 times and then put up a 10 spot in the bottom of the 4th and mercied tPrince Edward Island's Summerside Chevys by a 14 - 4 in 4 and a half innings of play.  Taylor Wright went the distance mixing in a wide array of pitches and kept the PEI team off balance all night long.

Team B.C.  Flattens Prairies!
Team B.C.  defeated Team Alberta and Team Saskatchewan by a cumulative score of 23 - 0 to go 4 and 0 in the Canadian National Bantam AAA Championships in Vaughan, ON.

This sets up Saturday morning's televised game between the undefeated teams of B.C. and Vaughan squaring off to see who will  win their pool and gain the direct by into the semi final.  The loser will play in the quarter final crossover against the 3rd place team in the other pool.

Team B.C. defeated the Okotoks Dawgs team out of Alberta in the morning game by a 9 - 0 score.  Team B.C. scored 1 run in the first inning off of the 2nd Canada Cup pitcher they faced at the Nationals and that would be all they needed as Skuija, Storrie, and Soper combined to shut out the Dawg team.

In the night cap vs. Lloydminster Twins of Saskatchewan, the Team B.C. bats belted out 5 hits en route to putting up a 6 spot in the first inning.  Dr. Dray then dissected the the Twins throwing a NO HITTER and the Team B.C. bats continued to pound resulting in a 14 - 0 mercy victory. 

Team B.C. defeats Vaughan to finish atop Pool "B"
Team B.C. jumped out to a 7 - 1 lead and then got a scare when Vaughan closed to 7 - 5 but a great defensive play by Sengara and a high pressure strike out with the bases loaded by closer Nesplak to get out of a 6th inning jam.  Team B.C. scored 3 insurance runs after Sengara led off with a triple and a clutch pinch hit by Dray got the B.C. bats rolling again.  Nesplak then came back and closed the door.

Team B.C. now has earned a bye into the semi final and will be awaiting the winner from tonight's quarter final crossover game.

Team B.C. Advances to Final
Team B.C. defeated Team Manitoba by a 16 - 0 score to advance to the Championship final. Lucas Soper picked up the win.

Team B.C. Wins Silver Medal at Nationals!
Team Ontario after their come from behind win over Quebec were riding high with emotion and pounded Team B.C. pitching early in the game jumping out to an insurmountable 11 - 0 lead after 3 innings.  Team B.C. could have folded but rallied when the PA  announcer anticipating a mercy called all the teams down in the 4th inning for closing ceremonies.  Team B.C. managed to score 1 in the 3rd and 2 in the 5th to keep the game going for a full 7 innings. 

Although the result was not favorable the boys did what they did all year they played with heart and never gave up until the final out, an out that occurred with an aggressive base running play at 3rd base.  Team B.C. played hard all tournament and finished with a 6 - 1 record and a well deserved silver medal.  The highest placing since by a B.C. Team since 2008.