Hayden Vardon was in a hurry to treat his mom to dinner Sunday at Marshall Field.
So he ended an Okanagan Midget AA Baseball League game with a two-run, walk-off single as the Vernon Canadians shaded the Central Okanagan Sun Devils 9-8 on Mother’s Day.
“Moms cheered and the team celebrated at the plate,” said Vernon’s Carl Vardon, co-coach with Mike Lewis. “We have been waiting 14 years for that one so it was great.”
Third-year Kalvin Blaeser went 3-for-3 for the C’s, while Matt Hanson produced a double and a single and Hayden Lewis supplied two hits, a walk and two runs.
Dakota Becker tossed three innings, giving up five runs. Ryan Gamage threw three innings and struck out eight while allowing three runs. The scheduled second game was cancelled to honour the moms.
The Canadians swept the Penticton Tigers 16-1 (5 innings) and 14-5 Saturday in the Peach City.
Rylan Henry drove in four runs on two hits while scoring once as Vernon took the opener. Matt Hansen was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs, while Jake Crandlemire was 2-for-3 with three runs and one ribbie.
Blaeser gave up one hit and struck out and walked five, allowing one run over four innings. Liam Alstad provided a strong final inning of relief.
“Our defence was stellar and our players were on their running game, stealing 90 feet every chance they got,” said Vernon coach Carl Vardon.
Gamage knocked in three runs with two doubles and two singles and scored three times in Game 2.
Blaeser supplied a double and two singles with one run and one RBI, while Crandlemire went 2-for-3 scoring two runs with a walk and one RBI. Vardon was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, one ribbie and one run.
Alstad scattered three hits, issued five walks and gave up one run in three innings, while Vardon
allowed five hits, three walks and four runs in two innings.
A six-run fifth was was the offensive highlight on the day, while catcher Lewis picked off three runners and Hansen got one stopping the Tigers on the bases. The TSN turning point came when Crandlemire laid out for a fly ball.
“He was injured in the first game but still had what it took to attempt a catch to back up his pitcher. We have turned a corner as a team,” said coach Vardon.
The Hytec Red Sox grounded the Associated Ready Mix Green Machines 12-9 in Mosquito play at Lakeview Park.
Dominic Meyer went 2-for-3 with four RBI for the Sox, while Deklen McDonald smacked a two-run single in the third and finished with three RBI. Gavin Johnson was 1-2 with an RBI-single in the second and Vincent Sanfilippo cracked a two-run double to put the Red Sox ahead in the fifth. The Green Machines were led by Drayden Routley with a double, single and one run. Caleb Buffie went 3-for-3 with two singles and a double and two RBI.