A narrow loss in the opening game of the Island AA baseball championships relegated the Oceanside Reds peewees to second place last weekend, but the Reds will look for redemption when Oceanside Minor Baseball hosts the U13 AA provincial championships beginning today at Springwood Park in Parksville.
The Reds begin play in the 10-team provincial tourney today (Aug. 4) at noon against Chilliwack. They will continue with contests Friday at noon against North Langley and at 6 p.m. against Abbotsford, then wrap up pool play Saturday with a 9 a.m. contest against West Kelowna.
The championships end Sunday with semifinals at
10 a.m. and the final at 2 p.m.
The Reds opened last weekend’s Island AA tournament with a 10-8 loss to host Victoria, their first loss to an Island team after rolling unbeaten through the regular season.
The peewees got back on the winning track in a big way after the Victoria loss, outscoring their next three opponents by a cumulative total of 55-6.
Anson McGorman pitched a complete game and Will Fox cracked his first over-the-fence home run in a 12-2 win over Duncan.
The Reds then dismantled Comox 25-1 as Will Roberts hit two home runs — including a grand slam in the first inning. Malakye Abel blasted a two-run shot and Ellis Vugtuveen added a solo home run. Nash Donkersley got the win on the mound, with Kolby Wood pitching the final two innings.
An 18-3 romp over Campbell River followed, with Vugtuveen getting the victory with relief help from Wood.
Donkersley had a home run in the opening loss to Victoria, one of the 73 hit by the squad this season.
They will try to add to that total this week in their final action as a group. The Reds players have been together for four years, dating to their first season of Mosquito ball, coach Rob McGorman said, and will disperse as bantams next season among the AAA and AA Junior Royals programs.
— Submitted by Rob McGorman