The Richmond Chuckers proved to be on the tough side of the draw at last weekends B.C. Minor Baseball Pee Wee AAA Championships at Steveston Park.
The hosts wrapped up a competitive season by failing to win a game at the eight team event but at least had a good reason for their struggles.
After opening with a 10-3 loss to Cloverdale, any hopes of advancing to the playoff round all but ended with a tough 4-3 setback to Coquitlam-Moody. Richmond then closed out round-robin play with a 4-0 loss to Victoria Black on Saturday afternoon.
Not only did Cloverdale and Victoria Black advance from Group A, both won their semi-final games, defeating Vancouver Minor (13-9) and Abbotsford (9-6) respectively. Cloverdale then capped a perfect tournament run (5-0) with a 5-1 victory in the gold medal game and will now represent B.C. at the Western Canadian Championships in Saskatoon, slated for Aug. 23-27.
The provincials wrapped up a busy and successful summer for Richmond coaches Don Hass and John Braaten, along with player Devin Patterson. They were all part of Team B.C. that won it all at last months under 12 Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series in Sylvania, Ohio.
Team B.C. produced eight consecutive victories, including an 11-3 triumph over the Wisconsin Rivercats in the championship game.
B.C. actually trailed 3-2 after four innings when the team broke the game wide open with eight runs in the fifth. A triple by Patterson was part of the big rally. Earlier, he scored his teams opening run and also produced another with an RBI ground out.
Extra innings...
- Richmond City Baseball will also be well-represented on the B.C. team that is competing at this weekends National Midget Championships in Quebec City. Brandon Kirk and Nawid Niyaz were named to the roster. Both helped Richmond earn a silver medal at the recent Midget AAA Provincials. The B.C. team will be managed by Serj Sangara.
- Other highlights of the summer all-star season, included the Chuckers reaching the bronze medal game at the Mosquito AAA Tier One Championships.
