The province's lone representative on sa国际传媒's junior baseball team got the ball rolling for the nation at the World U-18 Championship in Seoul, South Korea.
Jesse Hodges went 2for3 at the plate with a gametying, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth and scored two runs, including the winning one in sa国际传媒's thrilling 6-5 extra-inning victory over Japan.
Hodges finished with three runs batted in and also walked once in the Friday morning game (Thursday night Pacific time).
"These are the types of games that you dream for as a kid," Hodges said on the Baseball sa国际传媒 website. "Hitting a home run to tie the game in the ninth for your country is the best feeling in the world."
According to Baseball sa国际传媒, Hodges took a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall to score himself and Daniel Pinero of Toronto and force extra innings.
Down 5-3 with two out in the ninth and with Pinero on first base, Hodges tagged a 1-0 pitch to tie the game and send the Canadian dugout into a frenzy.
"I was looking for something inside with two out, and I wanted to drive the ball," Hodges said. "I kept my top hand strong, hit it as hard as I could, and it left the ballpark."
Hodges scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 10th.
The Victoria Mariners' shortstop - who plays third base for sa国际传媒 - and Owen Spiwak of Mississauga, Ont., had recorded RBI singles in the fourth inning to give sa国际传媒 its first lead of the game at 3-2. Falling behind 5-3, sa国际传媒 required Hodges's heroics to pull off the opening win.
sa国际传媒 beat Italy 4-3 in Game 2 late Friday night.
sa国际传媒 is in Group B of the 12-team event, along with Japan, Italy, the Czech Republic, Chinese Tapei and Panama. Group A consists of Australia, South Korea, the United States, Venezuela, Netherlands and Colombia.
After Game 1, Hodges was in a three-way tie for the tournament lead in RBIs. His .667 batting average was tied for third.
