New Brunswick and Sherwood Park, Alta are leading the way heading into the final day of ropund robin action at the Baseball Canada senior menB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s national championships in Victoria and Saanich.
The teams sit atop their respective pools with 3-0 records as the tournament heads toward the playoff round starting tonight at Royal Athletic Park.
The host Victoria Mavericks, who had lost their first two games, beat Red Deer 4-3 Friday on a walk-off, bases-loaded single by Duncan Blades that brought in Jeremy Campbell for the winning run.
TheyB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ll be on the field again today at 2 p.m. (Aug. 26, RAP) taking on Manitoba, which also lost its first two games and is playing the 8 a.m. game today against Tecumseh, Ont. A win could give the Mavericks a berth in the quarter-finals tonight at 2-2, but they need some help from other teams to get there.
On Friday, Red Deer erased a 3-2 Victoria lead with a run in the top of the sixth, but reliever Jason Gibson shut them down in the seventh, setting the stage for the MavericksB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ offence to go to work.
Kevin Biro led things off with a single to centre field, then after Kyle Orr hit into a fielderB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s choice, Connor Moughtin was hit by a pitch. The speedy Campbell was brought in to run for Orr, then after Griffin Andreychuk struck out, Sean Murphy was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Blades stroked a second-pitch offering from Joel Peterman into centre for the win.
Action continues with games today at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the crossover quarter-finals getting underway at 5. Third place in pool A B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ which could wind up being the Mavericks B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ p;lays second in pool B, with second in A playing third in B at 8 p.m.
The semifinals go Sunday at RAP at 9 a.m. and noon, with the bronze medal game set for 4 p.m. and the gold medal game at 7.