![The mosquito AA Duncan RiverCats will head to Surrey this weekend to play for the provincial championship. [kevin rothbauer/citizen]](http://bpbpd.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/13682cowichanvalleycitizenduncansmosquito.jpg)
Perhaps the Duncan RiverCats scared everyone else off.
The RiverCats qualified directly to the provincial mosquito AA baseball championships in Surrey this weekend when the other three teams in the zone opted not to contest the Island title.
The season has been a learning process for the RiverCats, but they’ve made huge strides.
“We started off a little slow, but we’ve been doing well,” head coach Clint Steigenberger said.
Steigenberger described his team as a “mixed bag” of kids, ranging in age from nine to 11.
“It’s a good bunch of kids,” he said. “We’ve learned a lot this year.”
The team’s accomplishments this season include victories over Comox’s AAA mosquito team. They’ve played a remarkable 15 games in the last three weeks, as well as practicing two days a week. That should prepare them for the gruelling provincial tournament.
“It will be a tough battle,” Steigenberger acknowledged. “There are a lot of good solid teams over there.”
Many of the Mainland squads are “prospect teams” who play together all spring and summer with the goal of winning a provincial title, while the RiverCats are a summer-only team.
“We didn’t know if we would be AA or A until just before the season started,” Steigenberger said, noting that the AA designations is based on the number of players registered in the association.
