Morning Star Staff
Six Vernon products helped the Bantam AAA Okanagan Athletics take three of four home games from the Bellingham Cascade Crush last weekend at Marshall Field.
Representing Vernon on the Kelowna-based A’s are Falcon Thomas, Eric Foufoulas, Jack Janzen, Brayden Beacom, Carter Morris and Chase Batchelor.
The A’s won 10-9, 12-2 and 11-2 after dropping the opener 8-6 in nine innings.
Game 1 saw Janzen in left field, Batchelor at shortstop and Foufoulas at catcher and they all turned in strong defensive outings with Foufoulas gunning down a runner attempting to steal second in the first inning that put the brakes on the Crush running game.
Thomas smacked a run-scoring triple and also pitched four innings in relief, allowing no runs and striking out one. Beacom entered in the middle of the game and did all the things the A’s needed to stage a rally from a four-run deficit by laying down a sacrifice bunt, drawing a walk to force in a run and later wearing a pitch to get on base and score.
Morris made a triumphant return after nearly a year off from baseball due to leg injuries to play first base, draw two walks, score a run, lace a hit to right and pitch two innings with two strikeouts.
The A’s (17-10) took the second game with Beacom playing short and stroking a two-run double. Morris, at first, turned in some defensive gems, while doubling in two runs.
In the fifth inning, Thomas hit a two-run blast over the right field fence to tie it 5-5. Batchelor caught and produced a triple while throwing out a runner attempting to steal second base in the final inning.
Batchelor pitched a complete game in the five-inning, mercy-rule victory. He recorded four strikeouts and picked two runners off first base. Thomas hit a two-run bomb over the left field fence that traveled an estimated 320 feet.
The final game of the homestand was the Beacom show. Starting on the hill, he tossed four innings with seven Ks and only one earned run. He went 2-for-2 with a double, four runs, two walks and one RBI.
Foufoulas pitched a solid final three innings in relief, allowing a run and getting one strikeout.
The Hi-Pro Sportswear Stingers defeated the Morgan’s Glass Mavericks 10-6 in Mosquito play Monday night at Lakeview Park.
The Stingers were led on the mound by Brendan Fisher and Connor Jones with Austin Seibel earning the save.
Jones went 3-for-3, scoring three runs while Hunter Johnstone went 3-for-3 scoring 2 runs. Kabe Balardo and Ryan Cox also reached base in all 3 plate appearances, scoring one run each. Cox unleashed a big RBI-double in the third inning.
For the Mavericks, Ben Bradford pitched a solid first inning and went 3-for-4. Dylan Hutalcik was solid in the field making a great play at shortstop and was great defensively behind the plate. Alynna Huss and Mike Huss both pitched well, while Caleb Murray also went 3-for-4