There's a saying that you have to be lucky to be good, and good to be lucky.
The Nanaimo Hub City Paving Pirates (30-8) will take a 1-0 win after edging the Parksville Royals on Wednesday at Serauxmen Stadium.
Neither team could get much going most of the evening, and the contest looked destined for extra innings with the Pirates down to their last out of the bottom of the seventh, with no men on base.
But Alex Rogers singled, then Crosby Rushton walked, then Ben Dunbar was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Justin Clarkson hit into what should have been an inning-ending ground-out at first base, but the Royals' first baseman and pitcher botched the transfer, and the Pirates were winners.
"We tried to get hits today and it didn't happen. So we tried to do the little things, and that didn't happen," said Nathan Odgers, Pirates second baseman. "I guess when you're winning you have luck to be able to pull stuff out like that."
Pirates manager Doug Rogers said the game didn't go exactly according to the game plan, which was to win 10-0.
"Against Parksville it seems they battle us pretty hard every single time," he said. "We got lucky. They had every opportunity to win that game, just the same as we did."
Colby Morgan threw one inning of no-hit relief for the win. The victory gave the Pirates a sweep in the season series against their neighbours, allowing only one run in their four wins against the Royals.
GAME ON … The Pirates play a tournament in Skagit Valley, Wash., starting Friday (July 6). The team's next B.C. Premier Baseball League action is on the road July 14 against the Whalley Chiefs.
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