Grappler Reels in Tourney Win
8 game battle up loser's side
Derrick Deveson (left) led the newly formed Victoria Grappler Sportfishing A's to their first, but probably not last, tournament as they won the 7th annual UMC at Steveston park.
The champs lost both round robin games as well as their 2nd game of the double elimination bracket, before turning their fortunes around and slugging their way through 8 games over two days.
"We must have hit 130 homers during the season, but have only hit one so far" complained Deveson after his team stood with one win and three losses.
But the Victoria club started hitting the ball on Sunday as they called upon all four pitchers in eliminating the Allstars, Mariners, and Rebels, before finishing off the Wildcats in a lopsided 14-0 final victory.
The Connaught Allstars were Victoria's first victim on Sunday as they suffered a 10-0 morning loss. The Allstars threatened in the 6th inning but the opportunity vanished when a costly baserunning error drew an interference call resulting in an automatic double play - thus ending the inning and stranding two baserunners.
The Richmond Mariners were the next test for the A's and they provided a scare, despite surrendering 6 runs in the top of the first inning. The Mariners answered back with six runs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the score at 9 apiece. The A's won the game in extra innings, when they rallied to score 2 before pitcher Dennis Tarnowski closed the door on the Richmond club.
Mariner head coach Nick Trazolini gambled desperately in the bottom of the 8th by giving the "take" sign with a 2-2 count. The strategy backfired - resulting in a strikeout and the 2nd out of the inning. Mariner pickup Ivan Thomas then battled Tarnowski to a full count before going down swinging and ending the Mariners hopes.
The Surrey Rebels provided another tough test for the Island club as Rebel pitcher Travis Suzuki was able to use the extra two feet of pitching distance to his advantage in holding the A's to only four runs. Rebel centerfielder Brett Fraser launched two tape measure shots out of Steveston park to account for all the Rebel scoring.
The final game was somewhat anticlimactic as the Wildcats, who had been hot all tournament, finally ran out of gas and the Island club romped to a 14-0 win in four innings.
Derrick Deveson was named tourney MVP. Teammates Matt Underwood and Neil Regimbal were named Top Pitcher and Infielder. Other winners were Georgio Trazolini (top catcher), Brett Fraser (top outfielder) and Jon Church (top coach).
