The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have opened up the 2019 Canadian Collegiate Baseball Championship tournament with a come from behind victory.

The Pack scored six times in the fifth inning to erase a 5-0 deficit and went onto beat Edmonton Collegiate 9-6 before a packed Norbrock Stadium.

In that sixth inning, TRU scored six times on three hits and left two men on base.  Liam Shibata led the way with a three run triple.

“It was a dog fight,” Shibata, the native of South Surrey, BC stated afterwards. “Coming into playoffs and being the higher seed we knew we had some pressure. Ray told us to forget about what we did in the regular season (finish first) and concentrate on the game. Edmonton came out and battled us hard. Credit to them, they have really improved since we played them earlier. We are happy to get out of here with the win.”

Shibata was 1 for 4 with three runs batted in and a run scored.  Malik James (third base, Whitby, ON) was two for three with a run batted in.   Liam Rihela (shortstop, White Rock, BC) was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Shibata added  “ We have a bit of an older group this year. That veteran presence calmed us down even when we got down early.  Being able to band together and come back as a group made it a pretty big character win tonight.”

Shibata recounted his big hit in the sixth, “ I tried to simplify it. Got down 0-2. Earlier in the game they got me out on a fastball so I was thinking usually I see a breaking ball in that situation. They came with a fastball and I got in front of it”.

“We didn’t swing the bat very well the first four innings,” said TRU head coach Ray Chadwick.  “ Joe  (Sinischalchi, Burnaby, BC)  struggled and gave up a four spot on a big hit.  Our motto is ‘don’t panic, no pressure’. We didn’t do that and came out with a big fifth inning and added runs in two more innings.”

Brandon Ludwig (West Kelowna, BC) was the second of four TRU pitchers and got the win going five innings, giving up three hits, striking out five and giving up a run.

“He did a heck of a job for us,” Chadwick added.  “ He has thrown well all year when he got a chance to throw.  With the guys we had in the rotation this year he didn’t throw much. When he did he was big.”

Edmonton’s big offensive threat was Anthony Owen who was two for five with three runs batted in.   Chase Harris was the losing pitcher going four and a third surrendering two hits, two walks and striking out three.

The WolfPack now don’t play until Saturday (May 11) in the afternoon with a 1 pm start time against the defending league champion Okanagan College Coyotes.

“The winner will go to the playoffs. The loser will have to play another game,” Chadwick said. “ Hopefully we won’t have to play another game.  We have met each other eight times. It is our time to win. Every other time we have won. It is our turn.”

“We need to bring our best game against OC and maybe start a little bit more on time,” added Shibata. “ I don’t buy into that too much (the fact it is TRU’s turn to win). It is going to be a battle. Every time we meet, the rivalry gets better. There is no love lost between us and it will be a good one Saturdya.”

TRU will go with Bryant Jameus (Kamloops, BC).  “We have our entire bullpen other than Ludwig so we will be ready to go.
Chadwick gave both his starters—CCBC all-stars  Tyler Moskalyk (Thunder Bay, ON) and Tyler Hodder (Fort McMurray, AB) an inning of work in this game.  “I told them if we were up that they would each get an inning of work.  They have had five days rest and will be good to go for the weekend.”

Hodder faced four batters in the eighth, striking out three and giving up a hit.   Moskalyk’s inning of work saw him giving up a run and striking out two.

with a come from behind victory.

The Pack scored six times in the fifth inning to erase a 5-0 deficit and went onto beat Edmonton Collegiate 9-6 before a packed Norbrock Stadium.

In that sixth inning, TRU scored six times on three hits and left two men on base.  Liam Shibata led the way with a three run triple.

“It was a dog fight,” Shibata, the native of South Surrey, BC stated afterwards. “Coming into playoffs and being the higher seed we knew we had some pressure. Ray told us to forget about what we did in the regular season (finish first) and concentrate on the game. Edmonton came out and battled us hard. Credit to them, they have really improved since we played them earlier. We are happy to get out of here with the win.”

Shibata was 1 for 4 with three runs batted in and a run scored.  Malik James (third base, Whitby, ON) was two for three with a run batted in.   Liam Rihela (shortstop, White Rock, BC) was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Shibata added  “ We have a bit of an older group this year. That veteran presence calmed us down even when we got down early.  Being able to band together and come back as a group made it a pretty big character win tonight.”

Shibata recounted his big hit in the sixth, “ I tried to simplify it. Got down 0-2. Earlier in the game they got me out on a fastball so I was thinking usually I see a breaking ball in that situation. They came with a fastball and I got in front of it”.

“We didn’t swing the bat very well the first four innings,” said TRU head coach Ray Chadwick.  “ Joe  (Sinischalchi, Burnaby, BC)  struggled and gave up a four spot on a big hit.  Our motto is ‘don’t panic, no pressure’. We didn’t do that and came out with a big fifth inning and added runs in two more innings.”

Brandon Ludwig (West Kelowna, BC) was the second of four TRU pitchers and got the win going five innings, giving up three hits, striking out five and giving up a run.

“He did a heck of a job for us,” Chadwick added.  “ He has thrown well all year when he got a chance to throw.  With the guys we had in the rotation this year he didn’t throw much. When he did he was big.”

Edmonton’s big offensive threat was Anthony Owen who was two for five with three runs batted in.   Chase Harris was the losing pitcher going four and a third surrendering two hits, two walks and striking out three.

The WolfPack now don’t play until Saturday (May 11) in the afternoon with a 1 pm start time against the defending league champion Okanagan College Coyotes.

“The winner will go to the playoffs. The loser will have to play another game,” Chadwick said. “ Hopefully we won’t have to play another game.  We have met each other eight times. It is our time to win. Every other time we have won. It is our turn.”

“We need to bring our best game against OC and maybe start a little bit more on time,” added Shibata. “ I don’t buy into that too much (the fact it is TRU’s turn to win). It is going to be a battle. Every time we meet, the rivalry gets better. There is no love lost between us and it will be a good one Saturdya.”

TRU will go with Bryant Jameus (Kamloops, BC).  “We have our entire bullpen other than Ludwig so we will be ready to go.
Chadwick gave both his starters—CCBC all-stars  Tyler Moskalyk (Thunder Bay, ON) and Tyler Hodder (Fort McMurray, AB) an inning of work in this game.  “I told them if we were up that they would each get an inning of work.  They have had five days rest and will be good to go for the weekend.”

Hodder faced four batters in the eighth, striking out three and giving up a hit.   Moskalyk’s inning of work saw him giving up a run and striking out two.

with a come from behind victory.

The Pack scored six times in the fifth inning to erase a 5-0 deficit and went onto beat Edmonton Collegiate 9-6 before a packed Norbrock Stadium.

In that sixth inning, TRU scored six times on three hits and left two men on base.  Liam Shibata led the way with a three run triple.

“It was a dog fight,” Shibata, the native of South Surrey, BC stated afterwards. “Coming into playoffs and being the higher seed we knew we had some pressure. Ray told us to forget about what we did in the regular season (finish first) and concentrate on the game. Edmonton came out and battled us hard. Credit to them, they have really improved since we played them earlier. We are happy to get out of here with the win.”

Shibata was 1 for 4 with three runs batted in and a run scored.  Malik James (third base, Whitby, ON) was two for three with a run batted in.   Liam Rihela (shortstop, White Rock, BC) was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Shibata added  “ We have a bit of an older group this year. That veteran presence calmed us down even when we got down early.  Being able to band together and come back as a group made it a pretty big character win tonight.”

Shibata recounted his big hit in the sixth, “ I tried to simplify it. Got down 0-2. Earlier in the game they got me out on a fastball so I was thinking usually I see a breaking ball in that situation. They came with a fastball and I got in front of it”.

“We didn’t swing the bat very well the first four innings,” said TRU head coach Ray Chadwick.  “ Joe  (Sinischalchi, Burnaby, BC)  struggled and gave up a four spot on a big hit.  Our motto is ‘don’t panic, no pressure’. We didn’t do that and came out with a big fifth inning and added runs in two more innings.”

Brandon Ludwig (West Kelowna, BC) was the second of four TRU pitchers and got the win going five innings, giving up three hits, striking out five and giving up a run.

“He did a heck of a job for us,” Chadwick added.  “ He has thrown well all year when he got a chance to throw.  With the guys we had in the rotation this year he didn’t throw much. When he did he was big.”

Edmonton’s big offensive threat was Anthony Owen who was two for five with three runs batted in.   Chase Harris was the losing pitcher going four and a third surrendering two hits, two walks and striking out three.

The WolfPack now don’t play until Saturday (May 11) in the afternoon with a 1 pm start time against the defending league champion Okanagan College Coyotes.

“The winner will go to the playoffs. The loser will have to play another game,” Chadwick said. “ Hopefully we won’t have to play another game.  We have met each other eight times. It is our time to win. Every other time we have won. It is our turn.”

“We need to bring our best game against OC and maybe start a little bit more on time,” added Shibata. “ I don’t buy into that too much (the fact it is TRU’s turn to win). It is going to be a battle. Every time we meet, the rivalry gets better. There is no love lost between us and it will be a good one Saturdya.”

TRU will go with Bryant Jameus (Kamloops, BC).  “We have our entire bullpen other than Ludwig so we will be ready to go.
Chadwick gave both his starters—CCBC all-stars  Tyler Moskalyk (Thunder Bay, ON) and Tyler Hodder (Fort McMurray, AB) an inning of work in this game.  “I told them if we were up that they would each get an inning of work.  They have had five days rest and will be good to go for the weekend.”

Hodder faced four batters in the eighth, striking out three and giving up a hit.   Moskalyk’s inning of work saw him giving up a run and striking out two.