The 2016 home debut for Gord Closson Forest Products also marked the team’s first loss of the season.
After four straight wins on the road to open the Nanaimo Senior Men’s Fastball League campaign, GCFP dropped to 4-1 with a 7-6 loss to Lantzville Pub at Waldon Park in Glenora on Tuesday.
“It was a fun game, even though we trailed the whole game,” GCFP manager Joe DiLalla said.
GCFP made things interesting. They had the tying and winning runs on in the fifth inning, and the tying run on again in the seventh.
Dave Devana led the offensive attack, going 3-for-3 with a three-run double in the fifth. Trevor Gicas was 1-for-4 with one RBI, Steve Lingren went 1-for-4 with one RBI, and Mike Beaveridge went 1-for-3 with a run. Dan Whiteford reached base three times walking twice and taking a pitch to the shoulder, and scored twice.
Gicas pitched and got off to a strong start with five strikeouts over the first three innings, and Ryan Kline made a pair of outstanding defensive plays at second base.
GCFP will play their next game at home on June 14 against Wheatsheaf, who beat them for the league championship last summer. The Duncan team beat Wheatsheaf 4-0 in Cedar on May 26.
“We beat them in their part, so they’re going to want to beat us in ours,” DiLalla said, laughing.
Following that next home game, the team will host the Vancouver Island Club Championship in Glenora on June 18 and 19.
