It was a simple task - win and the Prince George bantam single-A Knights would clinch a playoff spot Saturday at the 2012 B.C. Minor Baseball Association championship in Kamloops.
Except for the fact the Knights were up against the undefeated Surrey Cardinals in their final round-robin game in Pool B. The Knights gave up six runs in the sixth inning to the Cardinals and lost 9-2. Prince George ended the round robin with a 2-2 record, tied with Campbell River and Kamloops. The Cardinals finished on top with a 4-0 record.
When the tiebreaker formula was applied it was the hosts from Kamloops to emerge as the second playoff bound team due to a superior runs for to runs against ratio.
In Pool A, it was Ladner (4-0) and Cloverdale (3-1) grabbing playoff spots.
Dakota Curry started for the Knights against the Cardinals and kept his team in the game through five innings. Curry left the game after fanning five batters with Surrey leading 3-1. Craig Budskin relieved Curry and pitched the final two innings for the Knights.
Knights coach Gary Allbee said the pitcher's did their jobs this weekend but the team didn't hit the way they are capable of.
The bantam single-A championship was contested between Ladner and Cloverdale. Ladner shutout Kamloops 5-0 and Cloverdale squeaked by Surrey 10-9.
