Vancouver, BC The 4th Annual Vancouver Challenge Mens FP tournament continued on Saturday with beautiful west coast weather, under sunny skies and warm temperatures at South Memorial Park in Vancouver. Easily the largest crowd in recent history for Mens Faspitch in the Lower Mainland were treated to a full day of 9 games that wrapped up shortly after midnight local time. Pool play results from Saturday were as follow:
Saskatoon Black Sox 6 – Calgary Smokers 5
WP – Trevor Ethier (6) in relief of Sean Whitten
LP – Grant Patterson
A good ball game between these fine teams, with a back and forth affair that
finally ended using the international tiebreaker rule. HR – Trent Rubley,
Calgary.
Broken Bow Spirit 8 – New West Van City 6
WP – Mike Piechnik (7) in relief of Gerald Muizelaar
LP – Dan Valachy
This game proved to be one of the most exciting contests of the day, with
several lead changes. Van City tied the game in the bottom of 7 with 2 outs
only to have Bow rebound in extra innings to score 2 and take the victory.
HR – Brian Abrey, Van City – a 2 out grand slam shot that gave his team a
short lived 5 – 4 lead in the 5th inning.
Prince George Black Bears 3 – Saskatoon 0
WP – Collin McKenzie
LP – Trevor Ethier
Pitcher Collin McKenzie paved the way for the Prince George victory giving
up 1 hit and racking up 12 strikeouts. Harv Wiens lead the offensive attack
with a 2 run home run. HR- Harv Wiens, Prince George.
Broken Bow 3 – Vancouver 0
WP – Mike Piechnik with relief from Gerald Muizelaar (7)
LP – Nick Underhill
Vancouver committed 3 errors in the contest which directly resulted in all
of Bow’s runs for the victory.
Calgary 1 – Saskatoon 0
WP – Frank Cox
LP – Collin McKenzie
A good dual between both of these fine pitchers.
Final Standings after completion of pool play
Red Pool
1. Broken Bow 2 – 0
2. Vancouver 1 – 1
3. New Westminster 0 – 2
Blue Pool
1. Prince George 1 – 1 / +2
2. Calgary 1 – 1 / Even
3. Saskatoon 1 – 1 / – 2
* A 3 way tie in the Blue Pool was broken using runs for and against
criteria.
The top 2 teams in each pool received a double life in the playoffs and the
3rd seed received a single life.
Playoffs
Saskatoon 8 – New Westminster 0
WP – Sean Whitten
LP – Joe Robbins
Saskatoon’s bats came alive early and often in this game. With the loss New
Westminster Van City was eliminated from the event.
Broken Bow 5 – Calgary 2
WP – Gerald Muizelaar with relief from Mike Piechnik (5)
LP – Grant Patterson
Another good game between these top ranked ISC teams. Bow advances to play
Sunday morning vs. the Vancouver / Prince George winner. With the loss
Calgary drops down to play Saskatoon in the final game of the day on
Saturday evening, with the loser of that game being eliminated. HRS – Steve
Schott, Broken Bow (inside the park) & Sean O’Brien, Calgary.
Vancouver Grey Sox 7 – Prince George 0
WP – Rick Smith
LP – Collin McKenzie with relief from Jeff Hill (2)
Vancouver got off to quick lead courtesy of a 3 run home run from catcher
Kirk Waverick. Grey Sox advance to play Broken Bow on Sunday morning.
Prince George next plays on Sunday morning as well vs. the winner of
Saskatoon / Calgary late game. HRS – K. Waverick, Vancouver & Brad Avery,
Vancouver
Saskatoon 9 – Calgary 2
WP – Trevor Ethier with relief from Sean Whitten (6)
LP – Grant Patterson
Saskatoon blew open a tight affair in the later innings and cruised to
victory. Full marks to the Calgary Smokers who played 4 games on Saturday,
with a depleted line up and competed hard in each contest. Saskatoon’s bats
have come alive during their back to back victories in the playoffs, now
advance to play Prince George on Sunday morning. With the loss the Calgary
Smokers were eliminated.
Playoff games will continue on Sunday commencing at 9:00 am with the
Championship Final game scheduled for 3:00 pm.
The matchups are as follow;
9:00 am – Broken Bow vs. Vancouver Grey Sox winner advances to the final,
loser to the semi – final
11:00 am – Prince George vs. Saskatoon, loser is eliminated – winner plays
the loser of the 9:00 am game
1:00 pm – Loser of 9:00 am game vs. winner of 11:00 am game
3:00 pm – Winner of 9:00 am game vs. winner of 1:00 pm game
Results from Sunday will be posted after the conclusion of the event.
Larry Kancs
President
Vancouver Grey Sox