From the Prince George Citizen
Tough times for Grey Sox
by JASON PETERS, Citizen staff
They were still licking the wounds inflicted during an 8-1 Monday night loss to the Prince George Black Bears. For the Vancouver Grey Sox, a 10-4 drubbing at the hands of the St. Thomas Evergreen Centennials Tuesday morning was the equivalent of salt in the sores.
With the setback, the Grey Sox — stocked with seven members of Team Canada — dropped to 2-2 in the Canadian senior men’s fastpitch championship. The loss to defending champion St. Thomas was particularly tough for the Grey Sox because they grabbed a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning thanks to two-run home runs by Pat Mackintosh and Kevin Schellenberg. Both bombs came off Centennials’ ace, Frank Cox.
But, from that point forward, St. Thomas dominated. The Centennials put one run on the board in the bottom of the third inning (solo home run by Ryan Wolfe) and exploded for five runs in the fourth. A single run in the fifth and three more in the sixth completed the scoring.
Nick Underhill, who relieved starting pitcher Rick Smith in the fourth inning, said fatigue may be one factor in the two consecutive sub-par performances by the Sox. Pressure may be another.
“I don’t know if it’s coming in with such high expectations and we’re not relaxed, we’re pressing,†said the 28-year-old Underhill, who, along with Smith, is a national team chucker. “For myself, I feel I’m pressing a bit. I’m not really relaxed out there, I’m trying to steer the ball a little bit.â€
St. Thomas batters rapped out 12 hits against Smith and Underhill, including three home runs. The Centennials moved to 4-0 with the victory.
A Vancouver team last won the senior national tournament in 1966, the second of back-to-back titles by the Vancouver Blue Jays.
Later Tuesday, Vancouver faced the Jarvis Merchants and fell 3-2. St. Thomas does not play again until today (9:30 a.m. against Saskatoon and 8 p.m. against the Black Bears).