The Victoria Junior Mariners saved their best for last, claiming the sa国际传媒 Junior Premier Baseball League championship courtesy of a 7-2 victory over the Abbotsford Jr. Cardinals.The two teams went into Sunday afternoon聮s final with identical 4-0 tournament records, but manager Scott Smith聮s team was the last one standing at Whalley Stadium in Surrey.Michael Varley was 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, and Mitch Bryan was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in for the victors, who used three-run innings in the third and sixth to secure the triumph.Lucas Piechnik added a pair of hits in four plate appearances with an RBI and a run scored for the Jr. Mariners, who finished the regular season with a 24-20 record, but sailed through the provincial championship.Tanner Hess went the distance on the mound for the Jr. Mariners, allowing seven hits but just single runs in the first and fourth innings.聯We did it, we won the 聮ship,聰 said Smith. 聯It was unbelievable.聰聯We threw five starters and we got five complete games,聰 he said of his pitching. 聯It was unbelievable defence and Hess, in the final today, was lights out. We also had very timely hitting. This is just a very proud time.聰Earlier on Sunday, the Jr. Mariners blanked the Coquitlam Redlegs 1-0 in the semifinal, with Zach Downey on the mound. The right-hander allowed just three hits over seven innings.Bryan scored the winning run in the fifth inning, courtesy of Piechnik聮s triple.聯Some boys made the senior team based on their performance in the tournament, especially the last day,聰 said senior Mariners聮 manager Mike Chewpoy, who also heads up all coaches in the organization and is now licking his lips in anticipation.聯Hess and Downey were unreal and Piechnik showed up as well. It was good to see Brandon Ashford catch well and handle the pitching staff the way he did,聰 added Chewpoy. 聯Mitch Bryan was the player we thought he was all along, and it was good to see him have a strong showing this weekend.聰[email protected]@ tc_vicsports
