Jay Cook may have played the best baseball of his life. His efforts landed him in the biggest tournament of the year.
Cook was toiling for the Prince George BID Group Grays at the B.C. Senior Baseball Championship at Citizen Field. During the Aug. 3-6 event, he was nearly flawless at shortstop. At the plate, meanwhile, he filled the role of leadoff hitter to perfection. He regularly swatted pitches to open spots in the field and even ripped a couple home runs.
Cook's performance at provincials got him noticed by the Victoria Mavericks, who were trying for their second consecutive B.C. title. The Mavericks weren't successful in that quest, but knowing they'd be back in Prince George later in August for the RE/MAX Centre City Baseball Canada Senior Championship, they asked Cook to join them.
Now, the 29-year-old is just days away from stepping onto the diamond for Victoria, which will play as Team B.C. at nationals. The Mavericks start the eight-team championship with a Thursday game (2 p.m. Citizen Field) against the Strathroy Royals of Ontario.
Cook, a former college-level player, is excited about the chance to do some damage for the Mavericks and sees no reason why they can't contend for a national title.
"Anyone that shows up and plays well can win," he said. "Victoria's big thing is pitching and defence and from what I've heard they've got all their best arms and are ready to go. We'll see what happens."
Cook is listed as a third baseman for the Mavericks but may end up at shortstop. When the Mavericks are up to bat, he'll likely be in the leadoff position.
While the Grays were playing to a 2-2 record at provincials, one of Cook's teammates was Brandon Hunter. For nationals, Hunter is part of the host Westcana Electric Axemen. Based on what Hunter saw from Cook at a recent event in Red Deer and at the B.C. tournament, he's not surprised the Mavericks nabbed him.
"In Red Deer, hitting leadoff, he hit really well," Hunter said. "He sprayed the ball real well and then here at provincials he hit two bombs. That surprised me. He has the power but he's more of a spray or gap-to-gap line driver hitter."
Cook, five-foot-eight and 185 pounds of muscle, will be one of three Grays in the Victoria lineup for nationals. The others are both pitchers -- 27-year-old Jon Bourassa and 28-year-old Jesse Dill. The six-foot-four, 200-pound Dill has roots in Victoria and was a key contributor in the Mavericks' provincial championship last season. His younger brother, 24-year-old Tony, is also on the team.
The Mavericks and Axemen are on opposite sides of the draw for the tournament so if they do clash, it will be in the playoffs. Cook and Hunter would both welcome that meeting.
"If we do play each other, I'm sure it will be an interesting experience," Cook said. "We'll have to see how it plays out I suppose."
Added Hunter: "It would be fun. It's always fun to play against guys that you know, especially when you were with them and then they're on an opposing team."
Other clubs in the tournament are the Fort Saskatchewan A's (Alberta), the Reston Rockets (Manitoba), the defending-champion Windsor Stars (Ontario), the Halifax Pelham Canadians (Nova Scotia) and the Chatham Ironmen (New Brunswick).
Rotary Field, adjacent to Citizen Field, will be used as a secondary park.
Preliminary games will continue Friday and Saturday, with playoffs starting Saturday afternoon. The top two teams in each pool will qualify.
The championship game is slated for 7 p.m. on Sunday at Citizen Field.
See Wednesday's Citizen for more coverage of the Baseball Canada Senior Championship.
