The first home game for the Mid Island Pirates was one of the best of the season so far.
Nanaimo’s B.C. Premier Baseball League club defeated one of the top teams in the province by a convincing 9-3 score Wednesday evening at Serauxmen Stadium.
The Pirates built a 2-0 lead, and as soon as the Mariners drew within one run, Mid Island responded with a seven-run fifth inning.
Doug Rogers, Pirates manager, said he was elated with the win.
“You know coming in you’re playing the No. 1 team and we’re sitting on the bottom … It’s just baseball,” he said.
Rogers said his team did the right things.
“Two-out hits, taking extra bases, tacking on runs when you need to, they did that,” the manager said.
Nanaimo got a strong pitching performance from starter Cole Anderson, who gave up only three hits and one run over six innings.
“I was just trying to not throw them anything they can really do much with, just keep it away from them, just let them get themselves out,” Anderson said.
He said facing a good team with so many veteran, the Pirates weren’t intimidated.
“Not really. We were just going to play hard and give it the best we’ve got and do as much as we can,” he said.
A highlight of the Pirates’ big inning came on the basepaths, as Graham Dube’s bases-loaded single drove in two runs, and then, when the Mariners catcher was slow to retrieve a ball that got away from him, Morley Scott pounced and scored another run.
“He didn’t even break stride coming around third, he just blew right by me and was coming home…” Rogers said. “When you’re up by that much, why not take that chance? It demoralizes another team and it just energizes you.”
Dube’s three RBIs led the Pirates offence and Drew Hnatyshyn scored two runs. Seven different players had a hit.
Mid Island (5-11) is already a third of the way through the season and finally plays its first home doubleheader on Sunday (May 14).
“The standings are what they are. We’re by far the youngest team…” Rogers said. “I’m thrilled. I absolutely love going onto the field with these guys with practice and seeing the results with something like this happen? It’s so much fun, and they’re having fun, too. And they’re learning how to play the game the proper way and at a higher level.”
GAME ON … The Pirates host the White Rock Tritons on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Serauxmen Stadium.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com