Ajay Nickolet gave the Prince George LTN Contracting Knights the start they desired.
The hurler almost pitched a complete game Thursday as the Knights opened the 2013 under 13 triple-A provincial tournament at Spruce City Stadium with a 5-3 win over the Victoria Red Eagles. It was the first time ever that a Prince George team played in a provincial championship at the triple-A level.
Knights assistant coach Keith Hampe said opening the four-game round robin portion of the tournament sets the Knights up to challenge for a top-two finish in their pool.
"Our kids were pretty pumped about getting a win," said Hampe. "For whatever reason they seem to hit the ball real well when they're playing at home so having the provincials here for us is awesome."
They may be playing at home, but the Knights were the visitors against the Red Eagles, but with a pitcher like Nickolet the last at-bat didn't mean much for the boys from the island.
Nickolet threw six and two-third innings, tossing the maximum 70 pitches, allowing three hits and striking out nine batters before he was replaced by Liam Campbell, who needed four pitches to obtain the final out.
"He pitched a super game, a real gem," said Knights assistant coach Keith Hampe. "It sets us up really well. Ajay can't pitch again until Saturday and our starters for [today] haven't pitched at all, so it fits our game plan just perfectly."
Offensively, the Knights were led by catcher Seth Lapre, who went three for three at the plate on two singles, a homerun and three runs scored. Lapre had a single which led to the Knights first run, giving them a 1-0 lead in the second inning. But the Red Eagles rebounded in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead with three doubles in their first four at bats.
In the fourth inning, Lapre tied the game for the Knights at 3-3 when he drilled the ball over the fence for a two-run homer and Campbell gave the Prince George team a 4-3 lead later in the inning. Lapre added the insurance run in the top of the seventh.
"We really needed that extra run," said Hampe. "It allows you to play defence differently because if they get one base runner you don't have to worry."
The Knights and Red Eagles are in Pool A of the 10-team tournament, which wraps up Sunday afternoon with the gold-medal game. Other Pool A teams are the Cloverdale Spurs, Aldergrove Dodgers and Nanaimo Pirates. Pool B consists of the Abbotsford Angels, White Rock Tritons, Vancouver Minor, Chilliwack Cougars and Rutland (Kelowna) Rockies.
The top two teams in each pool meet in the crossover semifinals with the winners meeting in Sunday's final.
In other games Thursday, the Spurs romped over the Pirates 13-0, the Angels edged the Cougars 3-2 and Vancouver Minor held on for a 18-17 win over the Tritons after building a 16-3 advantage.
The Knights have two games today, starting with the Spurs at 2 p.m. at Spruce City Stadium and then under the lights at 8 p.m. versus the Dodgers.
Hampe said the Knights' coaching staff were still discussing their starting pitcher for the early game, but it's likely Ryan Hampe will start the night game.
"It's been hyped as a big game and Ryan can get a little excited, it's going to be key for him to control that," said Hampe.
