Expos Lose a Heartbreaker 2-1 to Top-Seeded Abbotsford; Low Scoring Affair Clinches Quarterfinal Berth

Posted May 22, 2016


Expos Lose a Heartbreaker 2-1 to Top-Seeded Abbotsford; Low Scoring Affair Clinches Quarterfinal Berth

It was an ultimate pitcher's duel in this contest, Kim versus Hutchings, an ace-off everyone was anticipating. In the end, Abbotsford won the ballgame in the bottom of the 7th off a sacrifice fly.

EXPOS 1 Abbotsford 2

Vancouver Minor knew what was at stake coming into this game, they knew what had to be done to make the quarterfinals, but they weren't content with just "making" the quarters they wanted to exact revenge on an Abbotsford ballclub that took 2 games from them at their home park earlier in the season. Both games at Nanaimo Park were tight low scoring affairs and with Kim and Hutchings opposing each other in this one, there were no doubts another tight ballgame was in store. The Expos were coming off probably the most exciting game of the tournament, a 9-9 (9 inning) tie to Chilliwack to kick off the 2016 RCBA Queen Victoria Invitational. This game against Abbotsford, when all was said and done may have very well been the cleanest, tightest, most intense round robin game of the tournament thus far. Kim, the proven Abbotsford pitcher gave Vancouver fits at the dish all day as 11 of his 15 outs were via. punchouts. Hutchings was equally as good going 4.67 innings only allowing a single run to score while managing to pick up 5 Ks along the way. Vancouver scored their first run in the 4th off a steal of home, Abbotsford would come back with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning off a RBI triple by Kim. Howse (Vancouver Minor) and Dick (Abbotsford) were excellent in relief; however, it was Abby who would have the last laugh. 

Bottom of the 7th: 4-batter Peters reaches on a dropped third strike , who then advanced to 2nd on the very next pitch off a wild pitch, a bloop single to CF put runners on first and third with none out, with the infield in a defensive indifference advanced Kim to 2nd, Yam gave Howse the task of facing Yosuke with none out rather than intentionally walk him the move would pay off as Howse overmatched Yosuke with a fastball to strike him out, Yam opted to intentionally walk Snow to load the bases with 1 out, with Wakelyn up the bases loaded and 1 out Wakelyn hit a shallow fly to CF, the throw to home by the CF (Hutchings) was off line as Abby would walk it off in bottom 7 off a sac fly, the appeal that the runner left early from 3rd was not successful.

MVP: #33 Damon Hutchings

4.67 innings pitched, 1 run, 5 Ks; 2/3 at the plate with 2 stolen bases

It was a great ballgame for all who could witness, well pitched and solid defense. It's safe to say that Vancouver earned the respect of many teams including Abbotsford with another tight ball game against the top-ranked team in the league. The Expos fought until the end, were neck and neck with the perennial powerhouse Angels and ended up losing by a hair. Onwards, the Expos face the hometown Richmond Chuckers in quarterfinal action Sunday (2:15pm Blundell North), a trip to the semifinal on the line.



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