The second half of the B.C. Premier Baseball League season began with a loss for the Langley Blaze as they dropped an 11-5 decision to the White Rock Tritons at McLeod Park.
The U18 baseball team still leads the league with a 24-5 record.
In the loss to the Tritons on May 27, Langley trailed 3-0 heading into the fifth inning before they struck for five runs.
Brendan Halstrom cleared the bases with a three-run double and Connor Chorpita followed that up with a two-run home run to put Langley ahead 5-3.
The lead was short-lived, however, as White Rock scored four runs in each of the top of the sixth and seventh innings.
Langley also split a doubleheader on May 24 against the visiting Victoria Eagles, losing 3-2 and winning 16-3. And the following day, they edged the Coquitlam Reds 3-2 at Mundy Park.
In that game, Jordan Atkinson went the distance, allowing two runs — one of them earned — while striking out four.
Kyle McComb and Andre Pelletier had the RBIs.
And against Victoria, extra innings were needed in the opener as the teams were tied at one following seven innings. The Eagles scored twice in the eighth while Langley could produce just one run in their half of the inning to fall 3-2.
Justin Lawrence and Hayden Jaco had the RBIs in the losing cause.
Jonathan Keltie was tagged with the loss, allowing three earned runs over seven and one-third innings of work. He struck out five.
The Blaze bats did come to life in the second game, scoring nine times in the first inning on their way to the 16-3 win.
Ryan Braun picked up the win, allowing one hit and striking out eight over four innings.
Halstrom and Jesse Unger led the offence with three RBIs apiece while McComb, Shayne Clarke, Liam Wyatt, Kristjan Storrie and Yi-An Pan had two RBIs each.
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The Blaze are back in action when they visit South Surrey Athletic Park on June 5 to face White Rock (11-12).
