Back-to-back home doubleheader sweeps have the Langley Jr. Blaze off to a hot start.
The U16 baseball team defeated both the Nanaimo Jr. Pirates — 3-2 and 10-0 — and the Vancouver Jr. Cannons — 3-0 and 2-1 — to remain unbeaten (7-0) in B.C. Junior Premier Baseball League action.
In the opener, Nanaimo struck for a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but that would be all the offence they mustered in the 3-2 loss.
Langley scored a pair in the third, with both Michael Dagg and Mike Billows scoring unearned runs, and then Justin Lawrence drove in Billows with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth.
Jon Bauer picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out eight.
The back half of the doubleheader was the complete opposite as Langley scored early and often in a 10-0 rout.
The Blaze took advantage of four Pirates errors to score six unearned runs and Liam Stroud and Matt Strother combined on a three-hitter.
Preston Kokatailo drove in a pair of runs, while Tanner Shaer scored twice.
Sunday’s games were much closer and low scoring.
Langley beat the Cannons 3-0 in the opener thanks to a one-hitter from Ashton Mantle.
Billows, Nick Rutckyj and Lawrence drove in the runs.
And the Blaze made it 4-for-4 with a narrow 2-1 win over Vancouver.
Mitchell Kennedy picked up the win, with Lawrence and Rutckyj providing the offence.
The Blaze are back in action April 27 (Wednesday) when they face the Abbotsford Jr. Cardinals (2-2) at Delair Park.
