After a weekend of exhibition games, the Nanaimo Pirates (15-4) can get back to the pennant race.
The Hub City Paving Pirates won three of five games at the B.C.’s Best tournament in Nanaimo and Parksville over the Victoria Day long weekend, and on Sunday (May 27) the B.C. Premier Baseball League schedule resumes with a road doubleheader against the White Rock Tritons.
Pirates manager Doug Rogers said the team basically accomplished what it set out to do at last weekend’s exhibition tournament.
“I wanted to make sure everybody gets innings,” he said. “Coming up to the midway point of the season we know it’s going to help us in the long run.”
The highlights of the weekend came the first day of the tournament, May 18, at Serauxmen Stadium when Justin Clarkson hit a home run over the green monster versus the Whalley Chiefs and then Colby Morgan threw well in a 2-0 loss to the Victoria Mariners.
Now the focus switches to beating the Tritons on Sunday. Rogers said the Pirates have the advantage since White Rock will have already played two games Saturday, whereas Nanaimo will have all its pitching arms raring to go.
“Playing a team that’s throwing their No. 3, 4 guys against you, you’ve got to make hay when you can,” he said.
GAME ON … After Sunday’s games at White Rock, next action for the Pirates will be Wednesday (May 30) when it plays the Parksville Royals at 6 p.m. at Parksville’s Springwood Park.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
