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‘A night I’m not going to forget’: Baseball fans cheer Nanaimo versus Nanaimo

Selects all-stars defeat NightOwls 9-5, rematch happens Wednesday, July 6
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Nanaimo NightOwls catcher Jake Vrlak attempts to tag out Nanaimo Selects baserunner Brady Rogers but the runner slides safely home just under the tag during an exhibition game Tuesday, July 5, at Serauxmen Stadium. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

It was Nanaimo versus Nanaimo, and it made for a special night at Serauxmen Stadium.

A Nanaimo Selects all-star team defeated the Nanaimo NightOwls 9-5 in an exhibition game Tuesday, July 5.

Both teams gave fans plenty to cheer about, with lots of runs and hits, strong pitching and some fine defensive plays. Brady Rogers had a two-RBI double and Joey Sabo had a two-RBI single for the Selects and Connor Caskenette hit a grand slam to lead the NightOwls.

Sabo said it was fun to play with his buddies in a what felt like a big game.

“Being able to play with all these amazing guys that I’ve grown up playing with and being able to play against NightOwls guys that I’ve coached, seeing Connor hit the home run, it was a special night and a night I’m not going to forget,” Sabo said.

He said Nanaimo baseball players always think they’re going to win, so the Selects felt like they’d be able to give the NightOwls a challenge.

“At the start of the game we weren’t sure what lineup they were going to put out and then they told us they were going to put out their A lineup, so we were pretty pumped and excited,” Sabo said.

Rogers said his team went in cocky – “we’re a bunch of men playing against boys, right?” – but the chance to have fun and play together was what stood out.

“I know pretty much every single guy on the bench, I’ve played with them or coached them at some time in my life, so having them all on the same group, on the same team is absolutely a blast,” Rogers said.

Sabo said the improvements to the stadium and the arrival of a West Coast League team are “unbelievable” for Nanaimo’s baseball community and predicted it won’t be long until ball fans are watching future major leaguers at Serauxmen Stadium.

“It’s absolutely massive,” said Rogers. “Baseball is growing in Nanaimo … it’s growing exponentially and it’s amazing for the game and good for the city.”

GAME ON … The Nanaimo NightOwls and Nanaimo Selects all-stars play a rematch on Wednesday, July 6, at 6:35 p.m. at Serauxmen Stadium. Tickets are $15-27 and available at www.nanaimonightowls.com.

READ ALSO: ‘Two home teams’: NightOwls to face Nanaimo select team



editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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