The Sooke Loggers played in the Kelowna May Days fast pitch softball tournament on May 17 to 19, and walked away as the undefeated champions.
On Friday night, squinting into the 9 p.m. sunset, the Loggers squared up against the Westbank Cardinals and made the sport look easy with a 17 to 7 victory. “We hit four home runs in the game and the hitting attack was lead by Nick Medwedrich and Kyle Cowick,” summarized Len Banner, the team’s Field Manager. Rich Haldane pitched the the win with relief from Scott Lieph. Home-runs were hit by Nick Medwedrich, Blake Hunter, Dan Whiteford and Scott Lieph.
Rolling out of bed for a mid-morning 10:30 game against the Abbottsford Yard Dawgs, the Loggers squeaked by with a 3-2 win.
“Rich Haldane with win over Derek Mayson. Well played game by both teams,” said Banner. “Nick Medwedrich had two RBI and Ben Edgington with the game winning RBI.” The Loggers closed the round robin schedule with a 8-0 five-inning win over the Lacey A’s, and a final standing with three wins, no losses.
Entering into the play-offs on Sunday at 8:30 in the evening, the Sooke Loggers were matched up against the Lacey A’s again. This time it wasn’t such a clean sweep.
“Game four was the first playoff game sudden death loss,” recalled Banner. Ultimately, the Loggers won, 1-0 with Scott Lieph pitching. Kris Walushka had two hits in three bats.
The late Monday morning 11 a.m. game saw the Loggers pitted against the Kelowna Rangers, which the Loggers took 5-1. The final game, played at 1 p.m., had the Sooke Loggers face the Randy A’s. The Loggers won with a 3-2 victory. “Scott Lieph with the win over C-Mac [Colin Mckenzie]. Brian Banner with the walk off home run in the bottom of seventh,” said Banner.
Scott Lieph was awarded Kelowna May Days 2013 MVP.
With this win, the Sooke Loggers qualify for the ISC world tournament in Moline, Illinois alongside the mighty Mississippi River. It will be a week-long affair, running from August 10 to 17.
The Sooke Loggers are Brian Banner, Chad Bryden, Kyle Cowick, Ben Edgington, Rich Haldane, Blake Hunter, Scott Lieph, Andrew Medwedrich, Nick Medwedrich, Tim Scaber, Adam Shnarr, Kris Walushka and Dan Whiteford. Coaching the team are John Bishop and Joe Medwedrich.
In summary, Banner adds, “Every player on the roster had a hand in winning the tournament with hitting pitching or good defence.”
Next up for the Loggers is the 2013 NAFA Open/Holm Classic ISC Qualifier tournament in Fargo, North Dakota, June 14-16.
