The Five Star Awards Blue Jays earned a berth in the Mosquito baseball championships with a 21-9 win over the Wayside Press Black Ninjas Thursday night at Lakeview Park.
The high-flying Jays exploded for nine runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away. Nolan Stein cranked three hits, including a double to the outfield gap. Michael Preston connected for three singles, Kassidy Schaper-Kotter showed an all-around game, striking out a Ninja, stealing six bases (including home twice), and collecting two hits and two RBI.
Nathan Thompson, Jacob Green and Jace Weir were defensive standouts in support of Blue Jay ace Stein, who chalked up four strikeouts. Michael Preston recorded three clutch Ks in the fifth, stranding three Ninjas.
Leading the Ninja bats was Levi Lee, who went 4-for-4 with two ribbies. Nik Whiston smacked three hits and two RBI, while Liam Henderson ripped a pair. Carter Scott sent a screamer to left for a double.
Colby Kokanis swiped four bases, and fireballer Cole Hutchison finished with three strikeouts.
In Wednesday night Mosquito playoff action, the Best Western Vernon Lodge Red Sox zapped Morgan’s Glass Yellow Lightning 11-5 at Lakeview.
Sox’ pitcher Jameson Love tossed a stellar no-hit opening inning, as did the Lightning’s Seiji Bott in the bottom half.
Ryan Vandesande sealed the win for the Red Sox, hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In Pee Wee action Wednesday at Creekside Park, the Interior Utility Management Yellow Jackets outlasted the Fraternal Order of Eagles Black Knights 14-8.
Powell Connor jumpstarted the Jackets with a big hit to centre, scoring two runs in the first inning. Ethan Eisenhauer responded with an out-of-the park home run for the Knights.
With the Jackets’ James Eustache and Izaac Lowe on base in the second inning, Ryan Rumsey hit to centre for two ribbies. Nakoda Parker reached base for the Knights, and after stealing two bases, fought through a hot box to score.
The Yellow Jackets got third-inning runs from Lowe, Jon Morley, Trey Winstanley and James Eustache. Kalvin Blaeser shut down the Black Knight bats in the third inning.
The final inning saw the Yellow Jackets’ Lowe and Blaeser reach base, and Eric Foufoulas drove them home.
Lincoln Connor kept the Black Knights at bay in the bottom of the inning.
The Vernon Sun Dial Canadians clipped the Kelowna Cardinals 14-10 in Midget play Thursday night.
The game was close through six innings with Kelowna holding an 8-7 lead, but in their final turn at the plate, the C’s bats came alive for seven runs.
Nathan Landy went 2-for-5 with three RBI, Ryan Cunningham and Daniel Eustache each had two hits and two ribbies, and Shelby Hartwig hit 3-for-3, but left the game with two broken wrists.
Tyler Lacktin Doyle and Brendon Zupp were solid on the mound to secure the win.
