Beauregard, Cardoso, Dick, Yahiro help Abby to BC Premier title

The British Columbia Premier League season ended at Elks Stadium on Sunday when the Abbotsford Cardinals were crowned provincial champions — their second such title in three years.

The final
Abbotsford Cardinals 15, Langley Blaze 3

The Cardinals bats came alive pounding out 13 hits on the way to the 2018 Championship, scoring seven runs in the first inning and five runs in the fourth inning. 

Catcher Kayden Beauregard earned game MVP honours going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Kayden Cardoso had a perfect day going 3-for-3, two RBIs and a steal of home. Jayson Smith was 2-for-4, as he knocked in a pair of runs, just like Taisei Yahiro. 

Carlin Dick went the distance for the win allowing three runs on five hits. He was aided in the third with a great running catch by CF Yahiro and an unassisted double play by 2B Shea Wutke. 

Josh Marchese had a two-run single for the Blaze in the third inning.

Semi-final
Langley Blaze 5, Abbotsford Cardinals 3

Using the momentum of the previous game, the Blaze scored two runs in each of the first two innings against the Cardinals starter Travis McDougall, who allowed four runs on three hits and four walks in 1 1/3 innings. Sasha Kamenjasevic took over pitching 5 2/3 innings allowing only one run on five hits and two walks, while fanning four.

For Langley, Josh Marchese knocked in a pair while Jayden Knight, Tate Dearing and Justin Thorsteinson drove in one apiece.

Blaze starter Jacob McDermott worked two innings allowing two runs on one hit and three walks. Sean Sasaki pitched four scoreless  innings allowing six hits. Ryan Scott picked up the save allowing a solo homer to the Cardinals Dylan Ohlsen.

The Blaze victory forced an extra game to determine the 2018 PBL Champions. 

Game 7
Langley Blaze 5, Okanagan Athletics 4 (eight innings)

A’s starter Ethan Huizinga kept the Langley bats quiet with off speed and curve balls allowing only 4 singles through the first five innings in a game which would decide who would meet Abbotsford. A’s catcher Marcus Strother, who earned game MVP honours, threw two Langley runners out and chipped in with a solo homer and an run-scoring single. A’s DH Alex Wright also had a solo homer. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Blaze leadoff hitter Jared Crossley was hit by a pitch, Tate Dearing followed a single and Holden Cumiskey walked to load the bases. Josh Marchese unloaded them with a grand slam tying the game at 4-4. Blaze reliever Ryan Scott retired the seven batters he faced (with two strikeouts) in the seventh and eighth.

Jared Crossley led off the bottom of the eighth with a single for the Blaze, followed by a Daniel Martin walk and a walk off run-scoriing single by Holden Cumiskey sent the Blaze to the championship final.