The Big Guy Lake Kings intend to be swimming with the largest fish when they host the 50th annual Canada Day fastpitch tournament at Spruce City Stadium, June 30-July 1.
They will be one of the teams to beat for that crown if they continue to play ball like they did last weekend while winning the 10-team Kamloops Titans fastball tournament.
Behind the pitching of lefthander Norm Linton, the Prince George-based Kings went 5-1 in the tournament, finishing with a 9-8 win in the final over the previously unbeaten Vernon Installers.
The Kings opened with an 8-3 triumph over the host Titans, then lost 4-3 to the Abbotsford Bulldogs. Thirty-eight runs in four consecutive victories on Sunday gave the Kings the title they sought. They beat the Abbotsford Jays 8-3, pounded out a 10-6 decision over the Bulldogs, and behind shutout pitching from Linton and Chad Ghostkeeper they blanked Kekumbas 11-0, leading into the final.
Linton was named the tournament's most valuable player.
The Kings have a busy summer planned with plans to enter the Canadian Native fastball championship in Winnipeg, Aug. 2-4, and the Canadian senior championship in Grande Prairie, Alta., Aug. 28-Sept. 1.
