Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
June 22, 2021, Victoria, BC – Victoria Mariners Myles Chamberlain pitched five innings of scoreless relief and centre fielder Daniel Sawchyn made a sensational diving catch in the bottom of the sixth inning, to help the Mariners defeat the Victoria Eagles 10-7 Tuesday night in an exciting BC Premier Baseball League (PBL) game at Lambrick Park in Victoria.
Chamberlain entered the game in the second inning, after Mariners starter Lucas O’Keefe had surrendered seven runs to the Eagles over the first two innings, negating a 5-0 first inning offensive explosion the Mariners had to start the game.
Chamberlain was masterful after that, striking out three to get out of the second and then blanking the Eagles through the sixth, striking out six more in the process. Connor Melanson pitched the seventh to earn the save.
The Mariners five-run first came at the expense of Eagles’ starter Ryder Green who gave up five singles, including RBI knocks by Griffin Gladych, Taine Clague, and Tyson Skinner and then a two-RBI single to Dylan Graw. A walk and a hit batter did not help his cause either.
The Eagles would come to Green’s rescue however, scoring three in their own half of the first, highlighted by a two-run home run from Jordan Bond, and after giving up a run to the Mariners in the top of the second, scoring four more in the bottom of the second to hold a 7-6 lead after two innings of play.
The Eagles four-run outburst was keyed by lead-off singles from Ryan Whelan and Ty Hall, a two-RBI single from Dominic Biello and and then back-to-back RBI doubles from Bond and Oliver Mabee.
Leadoff walks would then haunt the Eagles as Jaydon Malinowski would draw a free pass off Eagles reliever Spencer McGhie to start the fourth inning and then come in to score on an RBI double by Sam Shaw. In the fifth, Clague would earn the lead-off walk, eventually scoring on a wild pitch and when the Mariners Graw scored on a close play at the plate later in the frame, the Mariners had pushed their lead to 9-7.
Queue the play of the game. With Chamberlain tiring in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles Biello and Bond drew back-to-back walks to put the tying runs on base to start the inning. After a Mabee strikeout, Jack Swinton came to the plate and launched what looked to be a game-tying double or triple to the left-centre field gap. However the Mariner’s Swachyn made a Kevin Pillar like diving catch of the sinking liner and then got to his feet quickly to double Biello off second base to end the inning.
The Mariners would then add an insurance run in the top of the seventh and Melanson would close out the side in order in the bottom of the inning, thanks in part to a game-ending double play, to preserve the exciting 10-7 win for the Mariners.
For the Mariners, Malinowski would lead the way offensively, scoring three times, while Shaw was two for two with a walk, RBI and a run scored. For the Eagles, Bond’s homer and double were the big blasts, while he, Biello and Hall each scored twice. Dylan Brown also reached base three times, with two walks and a single.
The Premier Eagles and Mariners will continue their June marathon of games against one another this Saturday, June 26th, with a double-header at Layritz Park. Game one is scheduled for 12 Noon.
The full set of photos from this game by photographer Christian J. Stewart can be found at https://christianjstewart.zenfolio.com/p338565238