The Victoria Devils Fastball Club is celebrating the best season in its history after a wildly successful run at provincial tournaments held on the Lower Mainland.
The View Royal-based organization saw each of its U12, U14, U16 and U18 teams take home medals, with the U14s and U18s earning gold.
B次元官网网址淭his is a great outcome for our teams and the organiation as a whole,B次元官网网址� said club president Rob Miliken in a statement. B次元官网网址淲e feel our program is headed in the right direction and the results from [provincials] are certainly a good indication of this.B次元官网网址�
The U18 team, coached by former menB次元官网网址檚 national team members Kevin Bobroske and Rocky Vitale, topped the powerhouse, tournament-hosting 99 White Rock Renegades in a thrilling one-run final.
The 4-3 win gave the Devils their first provincial title in that age category.
The U14 squad proved to be a powerhouse of their own, rolling through their competition to the tune of an 8-0 record.
The squad opted not to compete at nationals in Brampton, Ont. due to extensive travel costs.
Head coach Pat Guiney noted that the teamB次元官网网址檚 strong all-around play and strong work ethic led to their success this season, which saw the club finish with a 73-9-2 record, with many games coming against older U16 and even U18 teams.
Six batters hit over .400 for the provincial tournament, including Mariah Grant who batted an eye-popping .480.
B次元官网网址淲e have six or seven girls with home run power on the team,B次元官网网址� Guiney said.
Bethany Brass, with a fastball topping out at nearly 60 mph, kept opposing hitters reeling while posting a sparkling 0.48 earned run average.
Last year, the U14 Devils lost a series of close contests at provincials, and Guiney said that only served to make them hungrier heading into the 2017 campaign.
B次元官网网址淚t creates character for the girls,B次元官网网址� he said of the previous provincial experience. B次元官网网址淚t makes them want to win because they [knew] they were [so close].B次元官网网址�
The U12 team finished with an impressive 6-2 record on their way to a silver medal, while the U16 girls earned bronze.
It marks the first time the club has seen all four teams finish with medals.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
