The Corvallis Knights proved anything but stiffs in rallying for a 3-2 West Coast League victory, with two runs in the top of the ninth inning, in a game to die for Wednesday night at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
Instead, it was the Victoria HarbourCats left to play the role of pallbearers on funeral give-away promotion night, as the terrifically tight game ended with the bases loaded for Victoria in the bottom of the ninth.
The 鈥機ats鈥� highlights, before 1,673 fans, were a pair of solo home runs from Dustin Demeter and Nick Plaia.
Meanwhile, Travis Hesketh, a former pitcher from Metchosin, won a free funeral in a HarbourCats promotion that attracted world-wide attention.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting. It鈥檚 good to know that鈥檚 looked after,鈥� said Hesketh, who bought the winning $2 ticket 10 minutes before the draw.
鈥淚 kind of had a feeling I would win it. I was feeling lucky. It鈥檚 the biggest thing I鈥檝e ever won.鈥�
Hesketh, a fit-looking 39-year-old, doesn鈥檛 appear as if he will need the prize anytime soon.
鈥淚 have a dangerous job in drilling and blasting,鈥� he did allow.
The prize was put up by Toneff Funeral Services of Courtenay, owned and operated by 35-year umpiring veteran Eric Toneff.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting that it was won by somebody who is thrilled to win such an unusual prize,鈥� said Toneff.
The Victoria-Corvallis set, a reprise of the 2017 WCL playoff final, concludes with games tonight and Friday at RAP.
Victoria is 4-6 in the second half of the season and 18-19 overall in the North Division.
The annual powerhouse and five-time WCL-champion Knights, named for the wife of Nike co-founder Phil Knight and main team sponsor Penny Knight, are 6-2 in the second half and 22-13 overall in the South Division.
