After dropping a pair of losses to league-leading Langley on Sunday the Victoria Mariners were looking to make some noise at home in Wednesday’s doubleheader against the White Rock Tritons.
It was all silent, however, in Game 1 as the home-side bats were kept quiet in a disappointing 4-1 loss. The M’s did snap their losing skid in the back half of the doubleheader, downing the Tritons 2-0 to improve their record to 26-13.
Tied at 0-0 in the top of the sixth inning of Game 1, Mariners pitcher Nick Dawson had runners on first and third when he snared a come-backer to the mound. He carefully checked the runner back, but then threw the ball away at first for a 2-0 deficit.
Dawson allowed a hit in the seventh before being replaced by Dan Phillips, who induced a fly ball but then gave up three singles to allow two more runs.
Hard to pin it on pitching, though, when the bats failed to give the Mariners a chance. They did score once in the bottom of the seventh, but left the bases loaded after a single, error and walk produced the opportunity.
“We’ve talked a lot about this, there is a lot of parity in the league and we’re not exempt from it, even being the No. 2 team. Anybody can beat anybody. I know it sounds like a cliché, but this year, especially, it’s 100 per cent true,” said Mariners manager Mike Chewpoy after the loss.
But looking into his eyes — even behind his patented sunglasses — they definitely told you the story on this day.
“Yeah, it’s a little disappointing coming back from a road trip and playing real well on Saturday beating the team that is chasing us [North Shore],” he admitted. “You flip a coin against Langley anytime, because they are a real good ball club, but today it was disappointing to start off like this.”
The Mariners — who rely a lot on speed and small ball — have only hit two home runs all year, both coming on the same day, a quirky stat. Chris Fougner and Chris Lata are the only two to clear the fences this season.
Fougner had three of the team’s hits in Game 1 on Wednesday and, like his manager, was not pleased with the result.
“Our bats have become a little soft lately, we haven’t strung hits together and it’s tough when you’re trying to battle this late in the season and move up spots [in the standings],” he said.
Especially considering the Mariners were 25-12 coming in and the Tritons were 11-23.
“We didn’t come out strong, started off dead. We couldn’t finish it off in the end, too,” added Fougner, whose dribbler in the seventh did score the lone run. “It’s important to come back after splitting on the road, especially against a team that’s well below us in the standings.”
The first game ended with Lata hitting into a 6-4-3 double play as Scott Doucet came in on relief of starter Anthony Aiello, a junior call-up who had Victoria a little baffled with his side-winding delivery.
In Game 2, the Mariners bounced back to win as Lucas Piechnik was solid on the mound. Mike Varley provided the winning RBI on a bases-loaded single and Jesse Mycock added an insurance sacrifice fly.
The Mariners face the Victoria Eagles (who swept No. 1 Langley on the Mainland on Saturday) tonight at 7 p.m. at Lambrick Park.
EXTRA INNINGS: The Mariners announced that Brendan Somers, David Warren and Drayson Lum will join MacKenzie Catto by moving on to college ball. Catto had already signed at UBC. Somers is off to El Paso Jr. College in Texas; Warren heads to Colby Jr. College in Kansas; and Lum is joining Marshalltown Jr. College in Iowa. ... To help offset costs, the M’s are having a bottle drive/garage sale/car wash/BBQ fundraiser Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Quadra Sport and Fitness
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