Travis Selje hit for the cycle and coach Tim Blake received a Gatorade shower as the Cloverdale Spurs won their second straight peewee triple-A baseball provincial championship.
"I'm pretty emotional right now," said Blake. "I've had most of these kids for two years and they've just really worked hard and it's a really proud moment for me and everybody else. It's awesome."
The Spurs capped off a perfect week Sunday at the 2013 Under 13 triple-A Peewee Baseball B.C. Championship at Spruce City Stadium in Prince George with a five-inning 24-3 win over Vancouver Minor in the gold-medal final.
Selje led the way for the Sprus with a single, double, triple, home run and finally capping off his day with a grand slam, while Derek Best earned the win on the mound, giving his teammates a solid three innings of work. Walter Dingwall also banged out a three-run home run for the Spurs
Kyle Gee took the loss on the hill for Vancouver Minor.
Just getting to the final was an accomplishment for Vancouver Minor and they surprised everyone by going 4-0 and winning their pool. In the semifinal against Prince George LTN Contracting Knights, Vancouver survived a scare to hold on for a 14-11 win after blowing a 10-2 lead in the sixth inning as the Knights stormed back with nine runs to go ahead 11-10.
"Throughout the week we've just been on a roller coaster ride," said Vancouver coach Tom Griffiths. "For this team to come us far as they had it's been a tremendous week for us."
He added he never expected to be playing in the gold-medal game, and believed many of the kids on the team were surprised to being in the game as well.
During the season Vancouver Minor and Cloverdale faced each other five times, with the same outcome each time, though, Griffiths said a couple of the games were a lot closer then Sunday's defeat.
"They've got some really good talent on that team," said Griffiths.
It's the second straight triple-A provincial championship Cloverdale has won at the peewee level, but only Liam Vulcano experienced the 2012 victory.
Coach Blake, along with eight of the players on the Spurs spent 2012 coaching and playing at the peewee double-A level.
"They've done a great job for two years, I couldn't ask for anything more," said Blake.
The Spurs had a stiffer challenge in their semifinal, facing the Abbotsford Angels. Cloverdale needed an extra-inning walk-off home run from Damiano Palmegiani for the 8-5 win. It was Palmegiani's second homer of the game. Vulcano also had a home run.
The Spurs are off to Spruce Grove, Alta., Aug. 22-25, to represent B.C. at the 2013 13U triple-A Peewee National Western Canadian Championship. Cloverdale won the 2012 title when it was held in Saskatoon. The Spurs first game will be Aug. 22 versus Regina.
Other teams qualified for the tournament are the host Spruce Grove White Sox, St. Albert Cardinals, Sherwood Park Athletics, two teams from Manitoba - North Winnipeg and South Central - and Saskatoon.
It'll be the last time Blake coaches the players he's had for the last two years, as he plans to continue coaching at the peewee level when they move to bantam. Blake said a love of the game brought him back to baseball after his sons, all in their twenties, grew up.
"A lot of people helped my guys on the way through and this is just kind of giving back," said Blake. "I have to make peace at home with my wife, she's OK with this level so that's where I'll stay."
Peewee All-stars
It was no surprise when the Spurs Palmegiani was named top hitter in the tournament, while Best received the nod for best pitcher. Other Cloverdale players to earn All-star selections were Selje and Vulcano at second base and shortstop, respectively.
Other All-stars were catcher Seth Lapre of Prince George, first baseman Brevin Gervais, Prince George, third base Brenden Schulz, Chilliwack, left fielder Kyle Monaghan, Vancouver, centre fielder Brett Bass, Abbotsford and right fielder Kyle Gee, Vancouver.
For more on the Prince George Knights see Tuesday's Citizen.
