Opening day at the ballpark had a little bit of everything, including, most importantly, the first win of the season.
The Nanaimo Hub City Paving Pirates split a doubleheader against the Victoria Mariners on Saturday at Serauxmen Stadium, losing 3-2 in extra innings before winning the rematch 8-3.
“We were a little disappointed at the outcome of the first game, but we were extremely happy with how we came out and reponded to that in the second game,” said Alex Rogers, Pirates pitcher.
The first game of the 2012 B.C. Premier Baseball League season was a marathon 12-inning contest. The teams brawled in the eighth inning after a hard collision at home plate, boosting the intensity the rest of the way. The M’s went ahead by a run in the 10th inning and the 11th, but both times the home team tied it and extended the game.
Pirates manager Doug Rogers said his squad didn’t execute, stranding 12 baserunners.
“We had a chance to win in three different innings before it even got to extra innings…” he said. “Guys get too excited. It’s the first game of the year; they’re all amped, which the brawl proved.”
Colby Morgan suffered the loss on the mound, allowing one hit and no earned runs over two relief innings. Griffin Andreychuk had a single and a double and Ben Dunbar had two hits and a walk.
The loss spoiled a notable pitching performance by Alex Rogers, who went 10 innings, allowing seven hits and one run while walking two men and striking out seven.
Doug Rogers said his starter was right around 100 pitches.
“We were watching him closely but he was feeling good.”
The right-hander said the loss reminded the team about its goal of 10 losses or fewer in 2012.
“Losing the first game of the year, that’s not a very good start to that,” Alex Rogers said. “So we took it upon ourselves to will ourselves to win. There was no way we were losing that second game.”
The Pirates got on the bats early and often in the rematch. Brendan McCarthy had a huge game with two doubles, a single, three RBIs, two stolen bases and four runs scored. Chris Faber had two hits and an RBI and Bryan Odgers hit a single and a double.
Luke Skingle threw the complete-game victory, giving up seven hits.
“I felt good,” he said. “They were hitting me a little bit but it happens. As long as we got the win, I’m happy with it.”
The fact that the Pirates got the win and padded their stats bodes well moving forward, Skingle said.
“It gives us confidence now. We can start a winning streak from here,” he said.
GAME ON … The Pirates’ homestand continues this coming Saturday (April 14) and Sunday, with the Victoria Eagles and the Whalley Chiefs, respectively, visiting Serauxmen Stadium. Game times are noon and 2:30 p.m. both days … The Bulletin’s extensive Nanaimo Pirates season preview was published last Thursday and is still online at this link.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
