It’s almost July and the Vernon Canadians are playing summer baseball at its finest in the B.C. 18U Baseball League.
The C’s won three games in five days and head coach Rick Leroux says his crew is primed for a mid-season push to provincials.
Vernon swept the North Fraser Nationals of Surrey 13-6 and 2-1 Sunday at Marshall Field, a few days after Jarod Leroux and Ethan Huizinga handled the hill in an 8-3 win over the first-place Kelowna Sun Devils.
“The kids are 8-4 in our last 12 games (including tournament play) and two of those losses came in the last inning,” said coach Leroux. “We’re getting sound pitching and fairly consistent good overall team play, defensively and offensively, to put ourselves in a position to win.”
Huzinga scattered five hits over seven innings as the C’s clipped the Nats in Game 2 Sunday.
North Fraser had the tying run on third base before Huizinga got their No. 2 hitter to ground out to second baseman Raynan Campbell.
Dylan Eckland went the distance in the opener, giving up eight hits and getting a double and single apiece from Dakota Becker and Leroux.
Caden Bracken went 3-for-3, while Campbell rapped two singles and two at bats.
In Kelowna, Leroux pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave the ball to Huizinga with a 6-0 lead.
Dawson Chase and Ryan Gudjlek each produced a pair of hits, while Huizinga, Landon Currie, Campbell and Jordie Wiseman supplied one basehit each.
The C’s are 6-18, while the Nats are 10-13-1. All seven teams qualify for provincials. The C’s visit Kelowna tonight.