Story and Photographs by Christian J. Stewart
August 3, 2019, Vancouver, BC – The North Shore Twins have advanced to Sunday’s Championship game of the BC Premier Baseball League Provincials following a 5-2 win over the host UBC Thunder Saturday afternoon at UBC Stadium in Vancouver.
The Twins used a three-run third inning to jump into the lead, highlighted by an RBI single from Adam Maier and a two-RBI single from Griffin Palfrey, but then watched as the scrappy Thunder, upset winners already over the Reds and Pirates, got a two-RBI single from Nick Fry in the top of the fourth to climb within reach.
The Twins though, would add some insurance in the sixth, as Lucas Yang would stroke a two-RBI double down the third base line, scoring Hilo Yamamoto (single) and Damon Hutchings (single) to up the lead to 5-2.
That would be all closer Mac Gatzke would need, as he retired the side in order in the seventh to get the save in relief of starter Joseph Sinclair.
For the Twins, starter Sinclair picks up the win, going five full innings and giving up the two Thunder runs on five hits, four walks, while striking out seven. UBC’s Jackson Fleming takes the loss, pitching a complete game and giving up the five Twins runs (three earned) on nine hits, three walks, while striking out three.
Offensively the Twins were led by Maier, Hilo Yamamoto and Damon Hutchings who had two hits each, with Yang and Sam Van Snellenberg contributing a double each.
The Twins advance to the final and now have the luxury of having to lose twice to whoever they play, to lose the championship. They are 2-0 and in the double-knockout format, should they lose the 3:00 PM game Sunday, a second championship final game would be played at 1:00 PM Monday.
Looking for the opportunity to get revenge on the Twins will be the Thunder, who advance to the 12:00 Noon semi-final on Sunday, where they will play the winner of the Mid-Island Pirates and Coquitlam Reds, who play at 6:00 pm Friday.
