The Nanaimo Pirates probably needed a win like this.
The Hub City Paving Pirates defeated the Parskville Royals 12-4 in B.C. Premier Baseball League action on Wednesday night at Serauxmen Stadium.
The Royals took an early 2-0 lead on a first-inning home run, but the Pirates put up an eight on the scoreboard in the third inning and coasted to victory.
“It was good to see guys confidently swinging the bat,” said Doug Rogers, the team’s manager. “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing the Langley Blaze, Parksville Royals or a T-ball team, you still have to find grass when you hit the ball.”
Eight different Nanaimo players hit safely in Wednesday night’s game. Tristan Olsen, Pirates third baseman, said his team was trying to put the ball in play and challenge the Royals’ defence.
“Hitting is somehow contagious. I don’t know how it happens, but it’s based off confidence,” he said.
Braeden Mousseau was 3-for-4 at the plate, Devon Geary was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Olsen was 2-for-4. Alex Rogers was the winning pitcher, striking out four over three innings.
The Pirates will now prepare for a road trip Sunday (May 12) to the mainland, where they’ll face the North Delta Blue Jays. The Pirates split with the Jays last weekend in Nanaimo, but this time they’ll go into the games swinging a hot bat.
“It’s a positive mindframe. It gets us up and going and kind of confident for the weekend,” Olsen said. “It’s a team we are able to handle but we’ve just got to go out there and do it.”
GAME ON … Next home action for the Pirates is May 25 when they host the Whalley Chiefs at Serauxmen Stadium. That day’s doubleheader will begin a stretch of 13-straight home games for the Pirates.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
