Last season was a historic one for Beacon Hill Little League. For the first time in more than five decades of league history, Beacon Hill鈥檚 major team of 11- and 12-year-olds won the District 7 crown and played in the provincial tournament.
Now their sights are set on back-to-back titles.
鈥淚t was a big thrill,鈥� said Beacon Hill manager Dave Clark, who also coached the team last year, and has been with the organization for 12 years. 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely some pressure to duplicate that this year.鈥�
Beacon Hill, along with teams from Layritz, Central Saanich, Hampton/National, and Lakehill opened the 2013 tournament on Monday at Hampton Park. The teams play a round-robin format, with games at 3 and 6:30 today through Friday. The top four teams advance to semifinals on Saturday at noon and 3:30 p.m., and the final is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
After two days of action, the standings are Layritz 2-0, Central Saanich 1-1, Beacon Hill 1-0, Hampton 0-1, and Lakehill 0-2. The Beacon Hill boys took a few innings to get going in their opener against Lakehill on Tuesday, but caught fire with four runs in the fourth inning, en route to a 6-2 victory. Layritz won the evening game 12-2 over Central Saanich.
鈥淲e got our jitters out today with hitting,鈥� Beacon Hill catcher Dawson Clark said. 鈥淎t the end of the game, we really showed what we鈥檙e capable of doing.鈥�
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have the stars we had last year, but everybody is more well-rounded.鈥�
Beacon Hill has four returnees from last year鈥檚 squad, which downed perennial champion Layritz in the 2012 final. The top-notch coaching and deep program at Layritz has long been the class of the district, said last year鈥檚 Beacon Hill manager, Tak Niketas.
鈥淭hey were Goliath and we were David last year,鈥� said Niketas, who鈥檚 managing Beacon Hill鈥檚 9/10 district winners in the provincial tournament July 13-21, at Layritz.
Niketas knows it鈥檚 a 鈥渙ne in a million鈥� shot to get to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn., but he鈥檚 a firm believer in making the effort.
鈥淚f you love the sport, that鈥檚 your dream,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he ultimate is to play against the world鈥檚 best.鈥�
The Beacon Hill gang found the best in sa国际传媒 to be a little intimidating last year, with many of the teams fielding players sized more like men than boys. Once they gained their equilibrium, however Beacon Hill made it as far as the semifinals.
鈥淭here were 1,000 fans watching the game. It gave us all goose-bumps,鈥� Niketas said, adding the chemistry and hate-to-lose attitude of his team was the root of their success. 鈥淸This year鈥檚 team] has a lot of talent. We鈥檒l see what happens if they have the grit.鈥�
Beacon Hill has two strong pitchers in Sean Young and Ben Mulchinock, and they have got plenty of prowess with their bats, but Clark noted all the teams have worked hard.
鈥淏y no means do we consider ourselves favourites. With young kids it can go any way on any day.鈥�
Today鈥檚 games include Central Saanich versus Hampton at 3 p.m., and Beacon Hill takes on Layritz at 6:30 p.m., in a rematch of last season鈥檚 final.
