The Vernon Diamondbacks opened the senior baseball season with two straight wins before dropping the third game in a weekend series the against Cranbrook Athletics at Butler Park in Trail.
The Diamondbacks scored a 6-5 walk-off win in Game 1, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Left fielder Tyler Gertzen and centre fielder Peter Ortman got on base before shortstop CJ Galozo drove in Gertzen. After Galozo stole second base, catcher Eric MacLachlan drove both runners home, capping a 3-for-3 showing with three RBI.
Rookie third baseman Trevor Sochan capped his debut with his second hit, driving in pinch runner Mike Patitucci from third.
The D’Backs got six solid innings from Jared Sochan, giving up five runs with two walks and five strikeouts. Ortman picked up the victory with a solid inning of relief.
In Game 2, the Diamondbacks thrashed Cranbrook 9-4 off a complete game from newly acquired starter Jeff May.
May mowed down nine batters while walking one over seven innings. Jared Sochan homered to right centre for the first dinger in four years by a Diamondbacks hitter.
In Game 3, the Diamondbacks got five stellar solid innings out of Patitucci, who was unable to get through the sixth inning and surrendered all eight runs in an 8-5 loss.
The D’Backs had their running game going over the weekend with Gertzen swiping three bags, to go with two hits, two runs and an RBI. Galozo also stole two bags, unleashed four hits, and had three RBI and three runs. Sophomore outfielder Mike Loewen enjoyed a breakout weekend, going 6-for-11 with two doubles.
The Diamondbacks open their home schedule May 25-26 at Marshall Field when they welcome the Nanaimo Coalminers. Games start at 3 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. Sunday.
