The White Rock Tritons continue to inch their way up the BC Premier Baseball League standings, after splitting a pair of doubleheaders on home turf over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Peninsula crew went 1-1 against the visiting North Shore Twins, losing Game 1 4-1 before winning the second game 5-0. The following day, the Tritons lost 1-0 in the first of two games versus the Whalley Chiefs, before storming back to win the nightcap 4-2.
The homestand left the Tritons with a win-loss record of 6-8, good for seventh-place in the 12-team league. The Victoria Mariners, at 11-1, currently sit in first.
In the opening game Saturday, the Tritons were stymied by North Shore pitcher Tim Walters – a member of Canada’s junior national team – who struck out five and allowed just two hits over seven innings.
On the other side, White Rock pitcher Gavin Wilson pitched one of his better games of the season, striking out a pair while allowing just two earned-runs in six-and-one-third innings; North Shore’s other two runs were unearned, after a fielding error and a passed ball, respectively.
White Rock’s lone run came in the third, when Dawson Veeneman scored after an error following a failed pickoff attempt at first base.
The Tritons’ offence was in better shape for the second game, scoring five runs – three in the second, two in the third – while pitcher Tanner Carmont held the Twins at bay, striking out six and allowing two hits en route to the complete-game shutout.
Much of White Rock’s offence came courtesy of some suspect fielding from their opponents, as the Twins made seven errors in the game, many of which led directly to runs.
On Sunday, offence was in short supply for both White Rock and Whalley, as Tritons’ Allan Hogg and Chiefs’ lefty Thomas Espig engaged in a true pitchers’ duel. Espig earned the win in the 1-0 game, striking out seven batters in seven innings. Hogg, meanwhile struck out four and allowed only two hits in six frames, before being relieved by Chris Kaufmann, who was tagged with the loss.
Michael O’Toole had a triple for the Tritons in the loss.
In Game 2, the winning Tritons were paced by a quartet of doubles – from Quin Hall (see story, above), junior call up Cole Walton and Graydon Rasmussen, who had a pair.
Saylor Gray and Jason Hill split the pitching duties, with Gray – who was credited with the victory – starting and striking out three in four innings. Hill followed suit, striking out three over the last three frames.
The Tritons’ month-long string of home games continues Tuesday against the Abbotsford Cardinals. On Saturday, White Rock will host the Parksville Royals for two games, and Sunday the Nanaimo Pirates come to town for two more.
