Vauxhall Jets take Best of West tourney
Back row: Les McTavish Coach, Joel Blake Coach, Matt Gough, Kaiden Cardoso, Connor Green, Garrett Nicholson, Ty Penner, Jared Binsfeld, Garrett Hawkins, Cooper Jones, Damiano Palmegiani, Ben Erwin, Dayton Peters, Zach Newman, Josh Tardif, Jim Kotkas Coach.
Middle Row: Bat boys, helpers - Adam Vulcano, Brennan McTavish, Shaye McTavish
Front Row: Adam Macko, Chase Florendine, Matt Rath, Liam Vulcano, Victor Cerny, Brett Mercier, Wesley Moore, Owen Harms, Jaden Griffen
The annual Best of the West tourney was settled between two teams from the West.
Except it wasn’t a pair of BC teams playing in the final.
The Okotoks Dawgs and the Vauxhall Jets -- both Alberta-based teams -- were knotted 0-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Jets scored four runs to earn their third BOW championship (2009, 2015, 2017).
Jaden Griffin got the start going 4 1/3 scoreless innings allowing five walks, striking out three. Griffin developed a blister when Hawkins entered the game with a 2-1 count and runners on first and second with one out. Hawkins entered the game striking out two to finish off the inning and earning the victory going 2 2/3 innings allowing two hits with six strikeouts.
Offensively, the Jets were led by a pitch hit fly ball by Jared Binsfeld which went on to be the winning run. Matt Rath continued a great championship Saturday with a 2 for 3 effort and an RBI. Owen Harms was 1 for 2 with a double and Victor Cerny was 1 for 2.
The Jets finished off the 2017 BOW scoring 36 runs and allowing just four runs over the five games. Next, the Jets head on another trip to Great Falls Mont. to play the Great Falls Chargers and Missoula Mavericks.
Chas Florendine and Ty Penner
The Dawgs beat he Blaze in extra innings 7-6, while the Jets beat the Twins 4-1 in the other semi final. The Dawgs opened with an 8-3 win over the White Rock Tritons, a 7-2 win against Langley and a 5-4 win against the North Shore Twins.
Wesley Moore started on the mound going four innings allowing three hits, one run with a walk and four strikeouts to earn the victory. Zach Newman earned the save going three innings allowing two hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Offensively, the Jets were led by Victor Cerny who had two RBIs. Matt Rath also had a pair of hits. Brett Mercier, Jared Binsfeld and Owen Harms each had a hit and Damiano Palmegiani knocked in a run.
The Jets opened up the BOW with a 9-0 victory over Badlands Academy Badgers. Adam Macko started going four innings allowing one hit with one walk and five strikeouts to earn the victory. Chase Florendine finished things off going two innings allowing three walks with four strikeouts.
Offensively, the Jets were led by Liam Vulcano had a hit and knocked in a run. Damiano Palmegiani had a pair of hits, including a double. Victor Cerny was drove in three runs, Brett Mercier had two hits driving in a run. Dayton Peters added a base hit.
Next the Jets beat the Coquitlam Reds 9-1.
The Jets were down early to the Victoria Mariners 2-1 in the final game of round-robin play before breaking it open with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth leading to a final score 10-2 for the Jets.
Garrett Nicholson started on the mound going four innings allowing three hits, two runs -- one earned -- with two walks and a pair of whiffs. Connor Green finished things off going one inning. Offensively, the Jets were led by Owen Harms who was 1 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Damiano Palmegiani was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Dayton Peters had two hits with an RBI. Victor Cerny doubled and knocked in a run. Kaiden Cardoso singled and drove in a run and Ty Penner singled.