First place is on the line as the 19-4 Twins attempt to keep their two-game lead on the second-place Mariners (18-7). The Okanagan Athletics are 11脷2 games back of first, but have played more games (24-12) with a lower win percentage (.667) than the Mariners (.720).
The North Delta Blue Jays (20-11), Langley Blaze (13-9) and Whalley Chiefs (16-12) round out the top six clubs, with the Victoria Eagles right behind in seventh at 15-14.
鈥淚t should be two good games. We played them at the Best of the West [tournament] and we played them at the Langley Invitational as well,鈥� Mariners manager Mike Chewpoy said of facing North Shore, recording tournament wins by 11-0 and 7-3 scores.
鈥淲e鈥檙e confident it鈥檚 going to be two good games. This has been one of the best starts we鈥檝e ever had,鈥� Chewpoy added of this season.
Chewpoy is getting production throughout his entire lineup and his top six are mainstays in Jesse Mycock, Tyler Schindel, Nick Seginowich, Jason Willow, Chris Lata and Chris Niketas.
鈥渋f those guys are hitting, which they usually do, we don鈥檛 have a hard time winning ball games,鈥� said Chewpoy.
Pitching wise, Liam Kruse and Jesse Simpson have six and five wins, respectively, for the Mariners, who will soon be coming up on a busy portion of their schedule, playing their final nine games over a six-day stretch in July.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a tough two weeks coming. We go to Tacoma [for a tournament], come back and play the Eagles the day after we get back, then off to Vancouver for three days, back for one and Vancouver for two more. That鈥檚 a tough stretch,鈥� said Chewpoy.
The Eagles will play host to the Abbotsford Cardinals today at noon and 2:30 p.m. at Lambrick Park, before facing the Twins on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Lambrick. The Mariners will also entertain Abbotsford on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.at Layritz.
