Coquitlam base runner Kyle Anderson celebrates teammate Luciano Letteri's two-run home run in the top f the sixth Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

August 3, 2019, Vancouver, BC – The hopes of a 2019 BC Premier Baseball League Championship came to an end today for the Langley Blaze, as they dropped a 5-2 decision to the Coquitlam Reds in an elimination game for both teams Saturday at the BCPBL Championships at UBC.

The Reds Jack Seward threw a complete-game four-hitter to defeat Langley 5-2 Saturday afternoon (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The Reds Jack Seward threw a complete-game four-hitter to defeat Langley 5-2 Saturday afternoon (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The loss, combined with the Blaze’s 5-0 loss to the North Shore Twins on Friday, eliminates them from further competition in the double-knockout format tournament.

Langley's Justin Thorsteinson would get his team started Saturday with a two-RBI double (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Langley’s Justin Thorsteinson would get his team started Saturday with a two-RBI double (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The Reds now live to see another game and they will face the top-seeded Mid-Island Pirates in Saturday’s 6:00 PM game.  That game will also be an elimination game for both teams, as the Pirates were stunned Friday night, losing 2-1 to the underdog and host UBC Thunder.

Langley's Justin Thorsteinson celebrates his two-RBI double that gave the Blaze and early lead Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Langley’s Justin Thorsteinson celebrates his two-RBI double that gave the Blaze and early lead Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Prior to that 6:00 pm game, the two undefeated teams – the North Shore Twins (1-0) and UBC Thunder (2-0) – meet in the 3:00 pm game. The winner of that game will punch their ticket to the Championship final game Sunday at 3:00 PM.

The Red's Williams Camacho Soto strokes one of his three hits against Langley Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The Red’s Williams Camacho Soto strokes one of his three hits against Langley Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

In Saturday’s Noon affair, the Blaze looked like they were going to run roughshod over the Reds and their starter Jack Seward, jumping out for three two runs in the bottom of the first, thanks to a two-RBI double from Justin Thorsteinson.

Coquitlam's Luciano Letteri (12) is mobbed by his teammates after his two-run home run tied the game in the top of the fifth inning (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Coquitlam’s Luciano Letteri (12) is mobbed by his teammates after his two-run home run tied the game in the top of the fifth inning (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

However Seward would escape that inning without further damage, shutting the Blaze out the rest of the way and when teammate Luciano Letteri launched a two-run home run in the fifth off Langley starter Theo Millas, the Reds had tied the game and turned the momentum in their favour.

Langley's Daniel Martin had one of the four hits against the Reds on Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Langley’s Daniel Martin had one of the four hits against the Reds on Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

They would add three more runs in the top of the sixth, thanks to an RBI-single from Williams Camacho Soto, his third hit of the day, a balk call and a wild pitch and that would be all Seward would need as he struck out four of the next six batters to end the game.

The Coquitlam Reds celebrate their go-ahead runs in the top of the sixth inning Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The Coquitlam Reds celebrate their go-ahead runs in the top of the sixth inning Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Seward takes the win, giving up just four hits, three of which came in that first inning and finishing with 11 strikeouts on the day.  His counterpart Millas, with 10 strikeouts, takes the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits.

Langley’s Thorsteinson pitched two innings of relief, giving up a pair of runs on two hits, two walks, while striking out three.

Be sure to check out the BCPBL Facebook Page for more images from this game! https://www.facebook.com/bcpbl/