Gavin Barrett and the Kelowna midget AAA Sun Devils are off to a hot start in 2017 with a 7-1 record.                                 - Image credit: Douglas Farrow/Contributor

Gavin Barrett and the Kelowna midget AAA Sun Devils are off to a hot start in 2017 with a 7-1 record. - Image credit: Douglas Farrow/Contributor

Sun Devils rise to top of B.C. league

Kelowna sweeps four games at home to move into first place in 18U AAA baseball

With a strong returning corps and depth at all positions, the Kelowna Sun Devils had high expectations heading into the 2017 baseball season.

So far, so good for the Devils who, two weeks into the new campaign, have moved into top spot in B.C. Baseball’s 18U AAA league.

Kelowna pushed its record to 7-1 with a sweep of four games over the weekend at Edith Gay Park.

On Saturday against the Victoria Eagles, the Sun Devils opened with a 4-2 win. Gavin Barrett took to the hill and went seven innings to earn his second win in as many starts.

Offensively the Sun Devils needed only five hits, including a solo home run, to secure the runs they needed for the victory.

In Game 2, Lamb went 4 1/3 innings to earn the victory in an 11-1 Kelowna victory. Nathan Ringness-Law came in and cleaned up in the fifth to end the game.

The Sun Devils blew the game open with a seven-run first. Logan Bligh led the the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Matthew Fuchs went 2-for-3 with a run batted in.

In Sunday morning’s opener, Dreyton Nelmes pitched a complete game one-hitter, while striking out nine in 6-o win over the South Fraser Giants,

Noah Foufoulas went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Jaimes Guidon went 2-for-3 with a single, a double and two RBIs and three stolen bases.

In the series finale, the Devils came from behind to edge the Giants 7-6. Down 6-5 in the seventh with none out, Nelmes scored on a passed ball to the the game.

Carson Moberg then delivered a line drive to centre to score Kurtis Wall with the decisive run. Nathan Ringness-Law went the first six innings on the mound and struck out nine, while Jaimes Guidon picked up the win in relief.

The Sun Devils return to action Saturday when they visit the Vernon Canadians for two games at Marshall Field.

Kelowna Capital News