The 2017 MLB draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, who next month plays for host sa国际传媒 in the 2017 world junior championship in Thunder Bay, leads the Victoria Mariners into the sa国际传媒 Premier Baseball League playoffs beginning this afternoon with an all-Island quarter-final doubleheader (noon and 2:30 p.m.) against the Parksville Royals at Layrtiz Park. If a deciding game three is required, it will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. at Layritz.
The winner will advance to the BCPBL Final Four next week in Coquitlam.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a different team when Jason is away with the national team and not in our lineup,鈥� said Mariners head coach Mike Chewpoy.
鈥淎ll our defence runs through him. And he also strikes fear at the plate.鈥�
It鈥檚 a busy time for the slugging infielder, who will play NCAA as a freshman next season for Div. 1 power UC-Santa Barbara. But first up, before the world juniors and his NCAA career, are the BCPBL playoffs.
There wasn鈥檛 much to choose between the Mariners and Royals this year. Both went 27-17 to tie for fourth place and split their season series 2-2.
鈥淭eams tend to panic at this time of season. But we like to slow the game down and play at our pace,鈥� said Chewpoy, of the way he gets his charges to handle playoff pressure.
The Victoria Eagles (14-30) and Mid-Island Pirates (11-33) both failed to qualify for the post-season in the 12-team BCPBL.
