Apr. 14, 2019 10:15 p.m.
The Mid Island Pirates had a perfect start to the B.C. Premier Baseball League season.
The Hub City Paving Pirates won all four of their games on the first weekend of the season, sweeping the Whalley Chiefs in a home doubleheader Saturday and then doing the same to the White Rock Tritons the next day on the road.
Not only did the Pirates win all their games, they won big, with all four of the games blowouts. Nanaimo won 9-1 and 10-0 against Whalley on opening day, then handled White Rock by scores of 13-3 and 8-3 on Sunday.
Doug Rogers, Pirates manager, said through pre-season and now the opening weekend, the team has created a winning atmosphere.
“It’s fun, obviously, going 4-0 and we feel pretty good about ourselves,” he said.
All facets of the game were working, the manager said, and noted that there were a lot of contributors.
In the season opener, starter Dylan Brock threw six innings and finished with 14 strikeouts. Jackson Stephen and Wyatt Dorman had two RBIs each, Aaron Marsh had a single and a triple and Brody Deverill also had two hits.
In the mercy-rule-shortened late game, Stephen struck out six over five innings, Odhan Manhas was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Connor Carson and Mackinnon Homeniuk had two RBIs as well.
Sunday started with Stephen going 4-for-5 with two RBIs, Dorman 4-for-4 with two RBIs and Homeniuk 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Josh Hill threw a complete game.
The weekend finale saw Manhas and Deverill both go 3-for-4 and Hill and Marsh had two RBIs apiece. Ryan Waatainen struck out six batters over six innings for the win.
Rogers said the things that worked on opening weekend should work against any opponent.
“You make routine plays and you’re going to put yourself in a position to win every baseball game you play,” he said.
GAME ON … The Pirates visit the Victoria Eagles on Sunday, April 21, and then have an Easter Monday doubleheader against the Victoria Mariners at Serauxmen Stadium, with games at noon and 2:30 p.m.