With a little luck, the Whalley Chiefs would have a pair of wins to start the B.C. Premier Baseball League season.
But considering their inexperience, a split of Saturday’s double header against the Vancouver Cannons at Whalley Stadium is satisfactory.
Whalley came from behind for a 4-3 victory in the first game, then dropped the second 4-2 in extra innings.
“A win in the opener after being down 3-0 late in the game was huge,” said Chiefs general manager Paul Hargreaves. “It showed the young Chiefs we can compete. The pitching of both Max Williams and Andrew Callegari was very strong.”
The Chiefs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to get the win in game one.
Lucas Soper scored the first Chiefs run in the fourth inning, hitting a leadoff single then scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Robazza.
Whalley tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, as Kevin Carbonneau drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Travis Leclair, then Colton Wright raced home after Will Gladwell hit into a fielder’s choice.
Leclair drove in the winning run in the seventh inning, hitting a single to score Jordan Deshane from third base.
Callegari was the winning pitcher, throwing three shutout innings in relief. He didn’t allow a hit, and walked one batter. Deshane and Wright each went two-for-three at the plate.
The second game needed three extra innings to decide, with Vancouver scoring twice in the 10th for the victory after the Chiefs couldn’t hang on to a pair of one-run leads.
Whalley led 1-0 after one inning and were up 2-1 after four.
“Game 2 was there for the taking,” said Hargreaves. “Jacob Robazza started and pitched very well. Both teams had chances. We ran out of gas in the 10th.”
Soper was the offensive leader, going two-for-five, while Nick Vellios took the loss on the mound.
The Chiefs will visit the North Delta Blue Jays tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. at Mackie Park, then host the Victoria Mariners for two games Sunday at Whalley Stadium.