Pirates play for first place

The Nanaimo Hub City Paving Pirates (21-5) and the Okanagan Athletics (23-5) play a series Saturday (June 16) and Sunday in Kelowna.

Nanaimo Pirates pitcher Bryan Odgers delivers to home plate during a game against the Coquitlam Reds last weekend at Serauxmen Stadium.

Nanaimo Pirates pitcher Bryan Odgers delivers to home plate during a game against the Coquitlam Reds last weekend at Serauxmen Stadium.

The premier league’s heavy hitters will go swing for swing with one another this weekend.

The Nanaimo Hub City Paving Pirates (21-5) and the Okanagan Athletics (23-5) play a series today (June 16) and tomorrow in Kelowna that will determine first place in the B.C. Premier Baseball League.

“You always like to play the best teams, battle it out for the top spot,” said Colby Morgan, Pirates pitcher.   “We always have good series against Okanagan.”

The Pirates will have to find the right balance this weekend, because they try to bring the same approach against every opponent, but then again, they like to get pumped up for the big games.

“It’s really exciting playing the better teams – we can challenge ourselves,” Morgan said.

The Pirates faced a pretty good team last weekend, hosting the Abbotsford Cardinals on Sunday at Serauxmen Stadium, and won one of two games but didn’t generate much offence.

Hub City Pirates manager Doug Rogers said the team would work on its plate approaches this week at practice.

“It’s not just a matter of going up there and swinging the bat,” he said. “What do we need at that particular time in the game?”

GAME ON … The Pirates play on the road the rest of this month. The only game on the mid-Island will be June 27, when the team visits the Parksville Royals at 6 p.m. at Springwood Park. Next home action for the Pirates at Serauxmen Stadium isn’t until July 4 against the Royals.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com

Nanaimo News Bulletin