With just one victory in their first two weeks of the regular season, the Whalley Chiefs managed two wins over the weekend in Victoria.
The Chiefs took to the field for a pair of double headers against the B.C. Premier Baseball League’s two teams in the provincial capital, and won one of two against each opponent.
Whalley lost 3-0 then won 8-6 Saturday against the Victoria Eagles on Saturday, then fell to the Victoria Mariners 7-2 Sunday morning before winning 8-3 in the afternoon’s rematch.
Whalley now has a 3-8 (won-lost) record, and are in 10th place in the 18-and-under league.
The Chiefs managed just five hits in the first game, but lost 3-0 to an Eagles team which totaled just four hits.
The home side did all their scoring in the bottom of the first inning, when three hits combined with a pair of Chiefs errors allowed two unearned runs to cross the plate.
Thomas Espig was forced to take the loss after allowing one earned run on four hits and a pair of walks, lowering his earned run average to 1.79.
Espig contributed to a Chiefs win in the second game with a strong game at the plate, going two-for-four with a double and two runs scored. Matt Legg was two-for-three with two runs scored and a run batted in.
Whalley scored five times in the third inning on three hits and a trio of walks, and added three more in the fourth inning before the Eagles sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Kyle Stubbins was the winning pitcher, allowing six runs (all unearned) on six hits and a pair of walks.
Against the Mariners on Sunday, the Chiefs again began the day with a loss. Victoria had 12 hits off Whalley pitching, including a pair of doubles.
Lachlan Hunter was the top offensive player for the Chiefs with two hits in three at-bats. Kap Kaplanis drove in the two runs with a sixth-inning double.
Lucas Soper earned his first win of the season in the second game, as the Chiefs earned an 8-3 victory. Soper gave up three earned runs on six hits and four walks while collecting six strikeouts.
He also contributed at the plate with a two-for-two effort that included three runs scored. Lichel Hirakawa-Kao also scored three runs and hit his third double of the season.
The Chiefs will play twice this weekend, hosting the 5-5 Nanaimo Pirates for two games at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Whalley Stadium.
