Langley Has Successful Trip to Arizona, including a 5-4 win over defending JUCO champs, the Yavapai College Roughriders

Nine months removed from the Yavapai College Roughriders winning the national championship they took the field against a group of BC high schoolers.

It wasn’t pretty as the Alpine Bank NJCAA JUCO World Series champs -- 5-2 winners over the San Jacinto Gators last June at Grand Junction, Col. before 7,914 fans -- met the Langley Blaze.

It was about what one could expect: the defending JUCO champs knocked off the high schoolers, mostly from Langley, 19-4 in Prescott, Az.

And then Yavapai and Langley took the field again for the nightcap of the doubleheader. This time the Blaze rebounded to score a 5-4 win over the JUCO champs. 

LHP Kyle Prather (Langley, BC) kept a potent offence off balance for four innings. Then Grade 11 student Kyle Gee (Burnaby, BC) took over displaying a fastball clocked at 88 MPH as well as a sharp curve. Gee pitched two innings. Closer Matt Dalgleish (Langley, BC) finished up for the save. 

The Blaze’s offence was driven by a three-run homer from Jayden Knight (Langley, BC), Meanwhile, Rhys Cratty (Langley, BC) and Danny Berg (Saskatook, Sask.) each doubled.

While the win over Yavapai was the highlight of the Blaze’s trip to Arizona there were other highlights like ...
 
_ Michael Stovman (Maple Ridge, BC) pitched well against the Chiacgo Cubs and had some productive at bats.

_ Dawson Gray (Surrey, BC) crushed Cincinnati Reds pitching one day hitting a pair of doubles.

_ Gus Wilson (Langley, BC) was terrific up the middle and had multi-hits off pro pitching and in particular triple off LHP Isaac Anesty (Guelph, Ont.) a Reds farm hand. 

_ LHP Colby Ring (Langley, BC) who impressed in his three pro appearances against the first and second-year pros from the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. Ring pitched eight innings and struck out 10, his fastball clocked at 83-85 MPH. 

_ Clayton Keys (Calgary, Alta.) was likely the best hitter on the trip.

_ C Archer Brookman (Pointe-Claie, Que.) hit a homer against the Reds, a no doubter over left-centre wall.

_ Cratty showed excellent power hitting four doubles.