The Abbotsford Senior Cardinals ended off the season hot and that streak continued in round one of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League playoffs.
The Cards snuck in into the postseason as the number eight seed, and shocked the BCPBL by eliminating the top-ranked Langley Blaze in a best of three series that concluded on Sunday.
The result advances the Cardinals to the BCPBL championship, which kicks off at DeLair Park tonight (Friday) at 6:15 p.m.
Abbotsford already had a spot guaranteed at the four team tournament because they’re the host team, but they earned their way to the final by winning two of three over Langley on Saturday and Sunday.
The Cardinals got on the board in the first to go up 1-0 on the Blaze at McLeod Athletic Park on Saturday, but Langley answered back in the third with a pair of runs.
Abbotsford tied the game back up in the fourth, and then scored a run in the seventh to win 3-2.
Carter Loewen smacked a home run, and had a team-high two hits in the win. Konner Piotto and Brett Bass drove in the other runs for Abbotsford. Taisei Yahiro earned the win on the mound, only allowing two runs and three hits in six innings of work. Closer Chase Stewart picked secured the game for the Cardinals and got the save.
Game two later on Saturday saw the Blaze show why they were the top team during the regular season.
Langley built up a 3-1 lead after four innings to cruise to an 8-1 win.
Abbotsford managed just three hits in the game, and Stewart drove in the team’s only run.
Game three went down on Sunday in Langley, with the Blaze needing to win to guarantee a spot in the BCPBL championships.
Langley scored in the first, but Abbotsford scored four unanswered to hang on for the 4-2 win.
Piotto and Bass each had a pair of hits in game three, with Loewen, Gage Buck and Kyle Stewart driving in runs.
The win eliminated the Blaze from BCPBL contention.
The Cardinals now join the North Shore Twins, Victoria Mariners and Okanagan Athletics at the BCPBL championships.
Abbotsford kicks off the tournament against the Twins starting at 7 p.m. An opening ceremonies for the event begins at 6:15. All games and events occur at DeLair Park.
Each team plays three round robin games, and the top two teams square off for the title.
The BCPBL champion will be crowned on Aug. 1.
For more information on the tournament, visit abbotsfordcardinals.com.
