North Shores Damon Hutchings earned player of the game honors against North Delta after pitching three innings and also notching two hits, a walk, an RBI and three runs scored at the plate in the Twins 8-2 win (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

By Christian J. Stewart (ISN)

July 28, 2017, Victoria, BC (ISN) – It was day two of the 2017 BC Junior Premier Baseball League Championships at Lambrick Park in Victoria and after the day’s action it appears that the No. 1 and 2 seeds heading into the tournament, the North Shore Twins and White Rock Tritons, are emerging as the favourites, as they both remained undefeated in round robin play.

White Rock base runner Michael Gillon would initially avoid the tag of Victoria Eagles catcher Jayden Cull (top), but slide past the plate, only to be tagged out by Cull as he tried to dive back to the plate (bottom) (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

Game 1: White Rock Tritons vs Victoria Eagles

The second seeded Tritons (29-11 overall), in an exciting first game of the day with the host Victoria Eagles (12-28 overall), needed a walk-off base hit from Corbin Smith in the bottom of the seventh inning to eke out a 6-5 win over the Eagles to move to 2-0 on the tournament.

Victoria Eagles base runner Chad Heglend slides pass the tag of White Rock catcher Sam McPherson during game one action Friday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

For the Eagles, it was déjà vu all over again, as after losing a heartbreaker to the number one seed North Shore Twins on Thursday, also in walk-off fashion, it happened again in a similar mode Friday morning, as they used a great starting pitching performance from Alex Baan-Meiklejohn (6IP, 3ER, 7H, 3BB, 1K) to stay close and then scored two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game 5-5 and set the stage for the White Rock last inning dramatics.

White Rock’s Rhys Folick slides safely into second base as Victoria Eagle’s shortstop Brad Cox is a bit late with the catch and tag in opening game action Friday morning (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

Smith’s hit was his second of the day and notched him his third RBI for White Rock. Matthew Rachman and Michael Gillon also had two hit days for the Tritons, while Jakob Armitage added a hit and pair of RBIs.

Victoria’s Ki Shinozuka makes a nice catch of a foul pop up in the game against White Rock Friday morning (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

For the Eagles, Ki Shinozuka had a pair of hits, while Justin Giles had a hit and pair of RBIs. Dawson Clark and Jayden Cull also contributed a hit and RBI each in the losing effort.

White Rock’s Ryan Dauphinee earned the win in relief of Ewen Hall, while EJ Baldonaza took the loss in relief for the Eagles.

Game 2: White Rock Tritons vs UBC Junior Thunder

The Tritons had a little bit easier time of it against the UBC Junior Thunder in their second game Friday, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a 2-2 tie, but then had to hang on for a 7-5 win to move to 3-0 on the tournament.

In game two action Friday, UBC Thunder player Matthew Suarez slides safely into home under the tag of White Rock catcher Holden Comiskey (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

Leading the way for White Rock was outfielder Liam Knight who had three hits, including two doubles, a walk and scored three runs. Ryan Dauphinee and Noah Bryerton also contributed two hits and two RBIs each.

White Rock’s Noah Bryerton would have a pair of hits and pair of RBIs in the Tritons 7-5 win over the UBC Thunder (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

For the Thunder, who fell to 0-2 with the loss, Christian Raytek and Carson Thornley had a pair of hits each, while Angus Pegg reached three times on a walk.

Thunder third baseman Christian Raytek makes a throw to first during the Thunder’s game with White Rock on Friday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

Game 3: UBC Junior Thunder vs North Delta Blue Jays

After losing their first two games, the UBC Junior Thunder kept their championship hopes alive by exploding for nine fourth-inning runs against North Delta starter Justin Thorsteinson to cruise to a 14-4 win over the Blue Jays.

UBC Thunder’s Rod Betonio was one of three Thunder players with multi-hit games Friday afternoon in the 14-4 win over North Delta (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

The Thunder would struggle over the first three innings against Thorsteinson, putting just a single runner on base via an error, but in the third, another error by the North Delta shortstop on leadoff batter Angus Pegg opened the floodgates and the Thunder then exploded for seven hits in the inning, including three doubles to plate their nine runs and jump into the big lead.

North Delta stayed close to the Thunder early with some good defence including this double play attempt by Travis Miller (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

North Delta would respond with four runs in the top of the fifth, but it would not be enough as the Thunder would score three more in the fifth and two more in the sixth, to put the game away 14-4 in a mercy-rule shortened win.

The Thunder’s 12-hit attack was led by first baseman Eli Saul, who had three hits, including a double and five RBIs, and scored twice. Carson Thornley and Sam Black also had two-hit days and scored two runs each.

UBC Junior Thunder pitcher Vic Domingo pitched a complete, game four hitter to get the 14-4 win over North Delta on Friday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

On the mound, the Thunder’s Vic Domingo had an awesome afternoon, holding the Blue Jays to their four runs on just four hits, while walking two and striking out five over the complete six innings of the game.

Game 4: North Delta Blue Jays vs North Shore Twins

The North Shore Twins scored runs in each of their at bats to secure an 8-2 win over the North Delta Blue Jays in the final game of the day on Friday, setting up a first-place battle with the White Rock Tritons, also 3-0, when the two teams meet at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

North Delta’s Yugo Omiya (left) scrambles back to second base on a pick-off attempt as North Shore shortstop Matt Wiseman waits for the throw (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

The loss drops the Blue Jays to an 0-3 record. They now have to hope that the Eagles can defeat the Thunder on Saturday morning and then have to defeat the Eagles themselves in the 1:00 p.m. game to force a three-way tie for third and keep their tournament hopes alive.

Leading the way for the Twins was Adam Maier, with a trio of hits, while Dylan Moore and starting pitcher Damon Hutchings had a pair of hits and an RBI each. Lucas Yang, with a pair of hits and pair of RBIs, also contributed to the 13-hit attack.

Twins starter Hutchings would go three full innings, allowing two runs on three hits, before being replaced by Evan Hoegler and then Lucas Grant who held the Blue Jays hitless the rest of the way.

North Shore’s Dylan Moore had a pair of hits and an RBI early to help jump start the Twins offence (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

Peter Broderick went the distance on the mound for the Blue Jays, giving up five earned runs on 13 hits, while walking three and striking out five.

The Tritons and Twins will meet in the 4:00 p.m. game Saturday to decide first place in the round robin, with the winner advancing directly to Sunday’s final, while the host Victoria Eagles will play the UBC Thunder at 10:00 a.m. and North Delta at 1:00 p.m. Should the Eagles win both of those games, they can take the third playoff position, however a loss to the Thunder would clinch that third-place position for UBC.

Standings After Day 2

1. White Rock Tritons 3-0
2. North Shore Twins 3-0
3. UBC Junior Thunder 1-2
4. Victoria Eagles 0-2
5. North Delta Blue Jays 0-3

BCJPBL Provincials Day 2: Tritons, Twins emerge as faves