The Nanaimo Pirates knocked the ball around pretty well on the weekend, but couldn’t climb the standings.
The Hub City Paving Pirates premier baseball team outhit the opposition on the mainland, but had to be satisfied with a win and a loss both days against the Coquitlam Reds and the Whalley Chiefs.
Nanaimo doubled up Coquitlam 4-2 to start the weekend, but dropped the rematch 8-3. The next day the Hub City boys handled Whalley 4-1 before losing the finale 2-1.
The most exciting victory was the opener at Coquitlam’s Mundy Park. The Pirates held a 2-0 lead most of the game, but the home team tied it in the fifth. In the top of the seventh inning, Brady Rogers hit a two-run home run that held up as the game-winning hit.
Rogers finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. Bryan Borrelli was 2-for-4 and the Pirates’ batting order as a whole amassed 11 hits. Luke Skingle earned the win on the mound, throwing a complete game and striking out five.
Nanaimo’s batters stayed relatively hot the second game, but Coquitlam got more timely hits and built a healthy lead. Shawn Arabsky singled and doubled for the Pirates, Owen Kelly was 2-for-2 with an RBI and Alex Rogers had two hits.
The next day’s doubleheader in Surrey started with a solid win, as Alex Rogers stymied the home team, throwing a complete-game victory while allowing just two hits and striking out six. Devon Geary had a single, a double and two RBIs for the Pirates, Braeden Mousseau was 2-for-3 and Kelly also had two hits.
The finale was a close one as the Pirates got a couple of hits in the seventh inning but their rally fell just short. Starting pitcher Tanner Linn allowed one earned run over six innings and Zach Diewert led the offence, going 2-for-3.
GAME ON … The Pirates (20-20) visit the Parksville Royals (2-29) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Parksville’s Springwood Park, then travel Saturday to the Fraser Valley to take on the Abbotsford Cardinals (19-12). Next home action for the Pirates is July 3 against the Royals at 6:30 p.m. at Serauxmen Stadium.
