SURREY — A Whalley Little League team flew home Tuesday after representing Canada at the Little League Intermediate 50/70 World Series in Livermore, California.
The boys came back to a warm welcome from friends and family after finishing 1-2 in the double-elimination tournament.
The team had a slow start, suffering an 11-1 loss in their first match to Liga Pabou Little League, the team from Curacao representing Latin America.
Two days later, the Canadian champions gave Asia-Pacific a run for their money before they scored seven runs in the eighth inning to lose 9-2. In the consolation game, Whalley was able to beat Taylor Little League 7-6 thanks to late-game heroics from Braden Scott.
The senior team is currently playing at the Canadian Championships in Victoriaville, Quebec, and has punched a ticket to the final today (Thursday, Aug. 7) after winning four of six round-robin games.
If they win the tournament, they will represent Canada at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Back at home, Cloverdale Minor Baseball made it to the provincial finals in two different age groups.
At the Peewee AAA Provincial Championships, hosts Cloverdale lost 12-8 to Abbotsford in the final.
Cloverdale started the round robin with two losses, but managed to claw back after winning their next two and qualifying for the semifinal against Burnaby.
Despite scoring five runs in the first inning, the Spurs couldn't hold on as Abbotsford scored four runs in the third inning and another six by the time the sixth inning started.
Coach Tim Blake said his team was considered an underdog to make the final, but said they have been working on the mental side of the game.
"We worked a lot on that this year," he said. "Baseball is a funny game sometimes. It can go either way and we just have to battle onto the next one.
I always say you have to have a short memory."
Despite losing, the team still qualifies for the Western championships and will travel to Manitoba to compete in the competition, which start Aug. 15.
At the Bantam AAA Provincial Championships, Cloverdale are repeat champions after beating Abbotsford 5-2. Last year, the boys managed to beat Abbotsford in the semifinal before beating Vancouver in the final. This year, the team did it in reverse order by beating Vancouver 10-2 in the semifinal before beating Abbotsford.
Head coach Garnett Pawliw said no other team can compare to the success his team has had winning provincials at the tadpole and mosquito levels.
"I would say I've had the core of the team since they were seven years old. I really think for the most part our kids on that team will all play college baseball. They're that good," he said.
With the provincial title, the boys have qualified for the national championship, in Vaughn, Ontario starting on Aug. 21. Last season, they finished second at the nationals.