Congratulations Dan Jukich - 2019 BC Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

Ahoy Pirates,

From Ian Logan - Vancouver Pirates 45+
  
  On behalf of the Pirates I wish to congratulate our friend and fellow ball player Dan Jukich on this fabulous achievement.  Congratulations Dan.  I guess this secures a starting spot at first for next season.  

  The man who has called more than 20,000 thoroughbred races at Hastings Racecourse was among those in the winner’s circle when the BC Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2019 inductees Wednesday in downtown Vancouver.

Dan Jukich, ‘Voice of the Races’ at Hastings for the past 28 years, was named to the Media Category along with five athletes, three builder-coaches, one team, one pioneer and the W.A.C. Bennett Award winner.  The inductees will be officially recognized as Honoured Members of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame at the Banquet of Champions on May 23, 2019 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. For more complete details, please see NEWS story above!
 

2018 LMBA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

45+ RAY EDGER DIVISION FINAL

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VANCOUVER PIRATES 45+ FOR WINNING THEIR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE LMBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN A GAME PLAYED AT QUEEN'S PARK STADIUM ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH - IN ONE OF THE CLOSEST LMBA FINALS EVER, THE PIRATES CAME FROM BEHIND TWICE TO SCRATCH OUT A 9 - 8 VICTORY OVER A VERY TOUGH WHITE ROCK LEGENDS SQUAD.     

The Legends jumped out to a 4 – 0 lead in the first two innings highlighted by a 2 run double by Todd Nadon before Pirates’ Pierre Moore put the Pirates on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the second.  Kevin Gordon’s 2 run double in the bottom of the fifth pulled the Pirates within one run before the Legends added two runs in the top of the 7^th to take a 6 – 3 lead.  Pierre Moore drove in two runs in the bottom of the 7^th before the Pirates exploded for 4 runs in the bottom of the 8^th to take the lead for the first time by a 9 – 6 margin.  Stuart Holloway’s 2 run, 2 out single brought in the go ahead runs.  The Legends struck for two runs in the top of the ninth and left two runners on base as the Pirates hung on for their fifth straight 45+ championship win.  Thanks to the umpire crew of Alana Page (home plate) and base umpires Gary Pakosh and Terry O’Krafka for a well officiated game.

                                                                                                                                                      BLUE JAYS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT 30+ DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Signs of a long layoff were evident at the LMBA’s 30+ Division championship game between the Burnaby Blue Jays and Howe Sound Hounds.  Neither team had played a complete game for over a month due to rain outs and statutory holidays.

Pitchers were well - rested but signs of rust were evident as there were 17 walks handed out during the contest which led to numerous base runners.  Blue Jays took advantage of four walks in the bottom of the first inning to jump out to a 2 – 0 lead.  A six run fourth highlighted by 2 rbi hits by Kyan Kantor and Rod Van Dorn, Jr. gave the Blue Jays a commanding 8 run lead which proved too much for a game Hounds squad to overcome.  Despite issuing 8 walks, the Jays pitching staff of Jordy Cunningham, Jeff Weisgerber, Jeff Ammer, and Mitch Hanna held the Hounds to 4 base hits as the Jays wrapped up their third straight 30+ Division championship (and fifth overall). Thanks to a very competent umpire crew - Pat Cascio (Home Plate) and base umpires Don Sytko and Jerry Tregaskis - great job, guys!

CHIEFS WIN 18+ DIVISION FINAL IN CLOSEST EVER LMBA FINAL

PITCHERS DOMINATE IN CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP TILT

Pitchers were the story as the LMBA's longest season ended with a classic contest between two outstanding teams played at sunny Robert Burnaby on Sunday, October 14th.  The Fraser Valley Chiefs edged the Newton Beavers by a 1 - 0 score in the lowest scoring championship final in the LMBA's 24 year history.  The win gave the Chiefs their third LMBA 18+ championship following earlier titles in 2013 and 2015. 

All five pitchers were outstanding and margin of victory was razor thin.  Chiefs Devon Franklin led off the game in the top of the first with a single and stole second before coming home on a single by Jordan Kissock.  Chiefs starter Jesse Peters held the Beavers scoreless for the first five innings with a dominant performance - the Beavers only managed two baserunners as Peters struck out 11 batters including 8 in a row. 

Beavers Chad Ouelette was also outstanding giving up only 4 hits in his 5 inning stint.  Jordan Kissock finished with four strong innings for the Chiefs as he yielded only one hit while striking out 4.  Beavers Kane Keating followed Ouelette with two scoreless innings striking out five Chiefs before Michael Caleb finished up with two scoreless innings.  The closest the Beavers came to scoring was in the bottom of the sixth when Eythan Goulah tripled but was left stranded.  

Congratulations to both teams for an outstanding final - there has never been a 1 - 0 final score in 24 years of playoff championship finals.  25 strike outs, only 4 bases on balls and 8 base hits - both teams played errorless ball.  Thanks to the umpire crew of Greg Teasdale (home plate) and base umpires Leo Gauthier and Bill Keegan for a great job.