The Strathcona Mavericks will make the first of two ventures to Prince George this weekend, competing in the sa国际传媒 Senior Baseball Championship.
Field manager Bob Burrows and general manager and coach Pat Nahirney - who is also the president of the Victoria Mavericks League - will also lead the return trip for nationals in two weeks time, representing the province. The Mavericks earned that right by winning last year's provincials in Kelowna, defeating Coquitlam 1-0 in the 2011 final. In fact, the Victoria club did not lose a single game in that tournament, sweeping all five and allowing just two earned runs over that stretch.
"We expect to win," said Burrows. "It's a very good team and it would be disappointing not to get to the finals.
"This could be three in a row for us, if we win sa国际传媒's and nationals, and next year's nationals are in Windsor."
This year's sa国际传媒 champ will head east to Ontario for the 2013 nationals.
"We've got a lot of guys who can hit well," added Nahirney. "These guys know how to win. A couple of them have won nationals before."
Those two are Sean Murphy and Lanny Burrows, who are back again this season on the all-star club that represents the Mavericks league.
Many have played pro, including Graham Campbell and Dave Auger, formerly suiting up for the Victoria Capitals and Seals.
Campbell will start on the pitching mound in the first game on Saturday at 10: 30 a.m. against Burnaby. Shaun Laing will take the hill in the second outing at 3 p.m. versus Kamloops and Matt Atkinson will throw the third game, Sunday at 8 a.m. against the host Prince George Grays.
Atkinson made a start in the 2011 provincials and also came in for the save in the final after Keith Shaw went six strong innings.
Laing is a seven-foot tall left-hander who is an imposing sight.
"Prince George should be strong because they are the hosts," said Bob Burrows, who has coached several of these players since they were eight and nine years old. Playoffs will begin Sunday evening and the championship game is set for Monday.
Langley, Nanaimo, Kelowna and Trail are in the other pool.
The Mavericks then return to Prince George in two weeks for nationals, having won last year's provincials, and Victoria will play host to the sa国际传媒 senior championship next season.
"We're staying in the dorm for this one - and we're at the Ritz for nationals," Burrows said with a chuckle as players are on the hook for costs at provincials.
"It's the Hilton, or whatever is downtown P.G. for a 5-star hotel, for the next one," he added with a laugh. "This time around we've got the old, single-cot prison cell with the plastic sheets."
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