Leave it to Miles

Mariners win Westerns

The Mariner club coasted through the round robin portion of the Western Canadian Jr "B"'s, losing only one game while winning four, and most importantly hammering their foe - Shawn Koster and his Sooke teammates by a score of 12-2.

Sooke had lost to the Mariners in the round robin and in the semi-final game but.....like a bad dream....would re-appear again to face the high flying Mariners.

The final game was a classic pitching dual featuring Sooke ace Shawn Koster up against the hard throwing Tyson Barkman.

In the bottom of the first inning Mariner's Blake Hunter hit a solo shot over the right field wall for a one run lead but Sooke answered by tying it up on a base hit up the middle.

With the score tied 1-1 headed into the 5th, Trazolini's troops were beginning to doubt themselves. Hunter had the Mariner's only hit and was intentionally walked by Sooke.

With Miles Martyniuk at the plate, Hunter surprised the Island squad by stealing 2nd base.

Mariner spirits were lifted even higher when Martyniuk singled sharply up the middle scoring Hunter for a 2-1 lead.

Sooke threatened in the 7th inning when Rich Gray, who has a history of big hits off of Barkman, came to the plate. Barkman relied on his blistering 83mph dipper to get ahead on the count - but then catcher Georgio Trazolini gambled by calling an 0-2 change-up.

The pitch caught Gray by surprise and the celebration was underway.

Yoshi Hikido was named top batter, Shawn Koster top pitcher, and Blake Hunter was named M.V.P.

The Mariner's have now set their sights on competing in the Canadian National Jr "A" Championships in 2009, when nearly the entire team will be in their last year of junior eligibility.

TIC would like to know what the readers think of the Mariners chances, please vote in the poll on the right.