Parents: we are still looking for scorekeepers and pitch counters for games home and away: please contact the coaches if you can help out. 

 

APRIL 17TH PRACTICE IS RAINED OUT.

SEASON OPENERS: FREEDMAN STARTS OUT RED HOT, VIPERS DEFENCE NEEDS WORK

With two early games under their belts, the 2014 Vipers have experienced first hand that no early leads are safe in the highly competitive Bantam AA division. 

The season opener was on a fine crisp evening in Coquitlam, and the Vipers got off to a fast start in the top of one, plating three quick runs after their first five hitters reached base. The hard throwing Coquitlam pitching pitching staff held the Vipers in check the rest of the way, striking out 15 Vipers in a dominating pitching performance. Doyle started for the guests, and held the home side hitless over three well pitched innings, but left the bump with the game tied 3-3 after a Coquitlam earned a couple of walks and became the beneficiaries of fortune changing errors to extend the inning and tie the game in the bottom of three. Coquitlam bats came alive, and they coasted to an easy 15-3 opening day win over the Vipers. Chaba led the Vipers attack with a couple of hits and two ribbies.

The Vipers home opener on Saturday against Chilliwack opened with a bang, as Freedman launched a two run bomb that exited the ballyard like a rising missile to give the Vipers the lead the bottom of one. The Vipers tacked on three more in the second: Rehmus battled for a walk, stole second and third and was cashed on an RBI single by Van Zanten. This was quickly followed by a  error that added one more, and Freedman continued his hot day with an RBI single up the gut to make it 5-0. Freedman drove in Rehmus and Gosselin with a missile into center in the top of four to make it 7-0. 

Freedman held a hot hand on the mound on this day too, holding the guests scoreless thru four, striking out six, and allowing only one baserunner beyond first base in his first appearance of the season.

But the wheels came off for the Vipers and the bullpen crew in the top of the fifth, when four errors by the home side extended the inning and the Chilliwack bats came alive with five hits, putting the visitors in the lead 8-7. The lead grew to 10-7 on a Vipers error and a homer to left in the top of six.

Successive singles by Chaba, Freedman and Mudry Lee brought the Vipers within two in the bottom of six, all setting the stage for a clutch piece of hitting by Van Zanten, who plated Robertson and Parker with a timely two run single in the bottom of seven to take the game into extra innings. But Chilliwack scored three quick ones in the top of 8 and held the Vipers in the bottom of the inning to seal their first victory of the year. Depite the loss, the Vipers offence came together, paced by Freedman's 3 hit, 5 RBI day; Robertson also had three hits, and Chaba, Mudry Lee, Rehmus and Van Zanten all had two hits for the home side.

The Vipers return to action in the Coquitlam Ice Breaker tourney this upcoming long weekend.

 

*SIGH* PRACTICE APRIL 3RD IS...CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH TIDES

 

THE EXHIBITION GAME @ VAN MINOR ON SUNDAY MARCH 30TH IS RAINED OUT...

 

BATTING PRACTICE ON SATURDAY MARCH 29th IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE FIELD BEING UNPLAYABLE

 

Game Schedule released: our draft house league schedule has been released, click on the schedule Icon for details. For ALL games, players are asked to be at the park, cleats on and ready for warm up 1 hour prior to game time. After the initial round robin, there will be additional playoff games in the first two weeks of June, the regular season house league schedule determines seeding for playoffs.

 

Calling all parent volunteers:

• VCB has its field permits as of April 11th: all Vipers families are asked to assist with putting up the Bantam AA fences that nite. Please bring work gloves, and if you have a socket set, that comes in very handy. The work party begins at five PM on Friday, April 11th:  how long the task takes depends on the number of hands who come out to help. All families are encouraged to assist.
• The  Vipers are also looking for scorekeepers and pitch counters for each game, road and away, this season. Parent volunteers are also required to prep and line the field before home games. If you can help with any of these roles, please contact Coach Pat

 

The Vipers have confirmed their first exhibition game, at Nanaimo Park vs Van Minor on March 30th! First pitch is at noon...please be at Nanaimo Park at 11 AM, cleats on and ready to warm up.

 

Welcome to the VCB Vipers new home page,  where you will find up to date info on every game, every practice.

As soon as Mother Nature stops watering the infield, coaches Andy, Pat and Mike will announce our initial practice schedule.

The Viper's regular season slate of aproximately 18 games will not be released for another week or two; the Vipers have been invited to two spring tournaments, click on the schedule link for details.