The Fraser Valley Chiefs started strong, but faded at the end of the Abbotsford Cardinals Invitational last weekend at Delair Park.
The B.C. Premier Baseball League (BCPBL) team started with three consecutive victories, qualified for the playoff round of the 10-team tournament, but were eliminated in the semifinal Sunday morning.
The Chiefs began round robin play Friday afternoon, and unleashed a 13-hit attack in a 7-0 victory over the host team from Abbotsford.
In a game that also doubled as a BCPBL regular season contest, Ty Walker dominated Cardinals batters over the seven innings, allowing just five walks and a pair of singles while striking out 15 to earn the complete-game shutout.
Jovan Ewusie paced the offence with three hits – including a double – and a pair of runs scored. Brody Hawkins, Mitch Dornblut and Dylan Rehmke also had a pair of hits and one run batted in (RBI) each.
Fraser Valley took advantage of another strong pitching performance Friday evening, cruising to a 10-2 victory over the Nanaimo Pirates. Caleb Lefebvre went the distance, collecting six strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on six hits and a walk.
Braeden Allemann with a pair of singles was the top batter.
Saturday began with the Chiefs clinching a playoff berth with a 3-2 win over the Victoria Mariners. Declan Murphy had two of the four Chiefs hits with a single and a double. Rehmke was on the mound, and turned in the third complete game from the Fraser Valley pitching staff in as many games. The Mariners managed just three hits and a walk off Rehmke, striking out four times.
The Vancouver Cannons knocked Fraser Valley from first place Saturday evening, rocking three Chiefs pitchers for 11 hits and three walks in a 5-2 triumph.
Fraser Valley was eliminated from the tournament in Sunday morning’s semifinal game, losing 6-0 to the Langley Chiefs.
Alleman and Jordan McComb each had two singles for Fraser Valley.
Friday’s win over Abbotsford lifted Fraser Valley’s BCPBL record to 5-2 (won-lost), good for fourth place in the 13-team 18-and-under league.
They are at home at Whalley Stadium Sunday at noon for a double header with the Blaze, currently in third place at 7-2.
