Morning Star Staff
The Vernon Canadians went 2-for-4 in a B.C. Midget AAA Baseball League road trip to the coast, splitting twinbills with the South Fraser Giants of Surrey and Aldergrove Dodgers.
Third baseman Chris Riva rapped five singles and swiped two bases as Vernon outlasted Aldergrove 13-11 in Game 2 of a Sunday doubleheader at Athletic Park.
Kadyn Thomas pitched four innings, striking out three and allowing four earned runs. Koichiro Yano tossed two innings in relief and Ethan Huizinga earned the save.
Centre fielder Tyler Liefke went 2-for-3 with four stolen bases and three runs, while shortstop Caden Thomas was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs. Right fielder Tyler Wellman was 2- for 3 with a double, two RBI and two walks.
Aldergrove ambushed the C’s 11-1 in the opener with Garner Chudyk going four innings, striking out three and allowing seven earned runs. Kyle Ciurka gave up four earned runs in three relief innings. Liefke walked three times and and had two stolen bases, while shortstop Dylan Emmons singled, swiped a pair of bases and scored the run.
“I am very proud of the way the boys responded after the tough loss Sunday morning,” said Vernon coach Ken Liefke. “You find out what you are made of after a loss like that. We are very resilient. We are quite happy with our play this season. Three of our losses were by one run. We are now 2-5 and could easily be 5-2 but that is the way it goes sometimes.”
Emmons hurled a three-hitter with six punchouts Saturday as the C’s stopped the Giants 8-1 in Game 1 at Unwin Park.
Emmons also supplied two hits, one stolen base and three runs, while Chudyk was 2-for-3 with a double and three ribbies.
The Giants took the nightcap 5-4 with a controversial call ending the game. Wellman gave up four earned runs over six innings while fanning four. Ciurka pitched the last inning, giving up the winning run on a bizarre play.
“The bases were loaded, our infield was in and the ball was hit to our third baseman who went home for the force,” said Liefke. “The umpire called him safe saying ‘he was under the tag.’ We told him the bases were loaded and it was a force. He said ‘oh ya, you are right but the catcher’s foot was off the base’’, and then left the park.”
Thomas drove in two runs wth a double and single, while Emmons knocked in three runs with three hits.
The Canadians visit the Tri City Indians (Port Moody) and Ridge Meadows Royals for doubleheaders this weekend.
