Story submitted by Tyler Olinyk
The stage was set for the final, a heavyweight rematch from round robin play: Coquitlam versus White Rock.
Coming into the game Coquitlam was 4-1, scoring 55 and giving up 26, their only loss was to the same White Rock team during the round robin. The always powerful White Rock squad also boasted a 4-1 record, scoring 41 and giving up a mere 10, losing only to Langley City. With explosive run support both sides were capable of, fireworks were almost guaranteed Monday night at the Yard.
A beautiful summer evening for baseball, the game time temperature hit highs of 29C, but a cool Mackin breeze made on field temperatures much more bearable. Player intros echoed across the park, and in an approving gesture from the gods of baseball, the flags began to flutter just as the wonderful Michelle Williams sung our national anthem. And as the teams returned to their dugouts there was a calm of anticipation that dropped over the park. This would soon break, as fans were about to be treated to one of the highest scoring, back and forth, edge of your seat baseball games of the tournament!
As we are all well aware, Little League baseball is a game of managing mistakes. This one, from the first pitch to the last out, this game was all offense, as the teams combined for a total of 25 runs scored. Getting first crack, White Rock led off the 1st inning scoring 3 quick runs, but Coquitlam didn't panic, and in the bottom half of the inning they plating 3 of their own.
In the top half of the second, WR loaded the bases, however, Coquitlam got out of the jam giving up only 1. In their half, the A's had some timely hits, and capitalized on a couple of WR mistakes. And at the end of the inning, Coquitlam was up 6-4.
After an explosive 2nd, the both pitchers seemed to find their groove, making for a very quick 3rd inning. Neither club scored, and they headed into the 4th.
The teams traded blows again in the 4th. White Rock took advantage of some minor Coquitlam mistakes, and took the lead back 7-6. But their lead was short lived. Coquitlam's offence made up for their minor blunders on defence, scoring quickly to tie the game and then again to take an 8-7 lead.
The 5th was all Coquitlam. The A's shut down WR's bats, allowing only a single run, and then their bats went back to work. There were a couple of close calls at the dish, but after the dust had settled, the A's had scored 5 to regain the lead 13-8. But as we all know, the final 3 outs are the hardest to get, and in the top of the 6th, White Rock was not giving up. Patient at the plate, the WR squad was aiming for yet another comeback! Coquitlam ran into a little bit of pitching trouble, and run after run crossed the plate as WR clawed their way back into it.
Until finally the situation every baseball player has dreamed of at least once in their lives. 2 out, bases loaded, tying run is at third. The ultimate scenario. Then a wild pitch crosses the plate, and the WR runner at 3 breaks for home. Coquitlam's catcher scrambled to the fence to retrieve the pass ball, from his knees throws a strike to the covering pitcher. The ball was there, the White Rock runner slides, the dust cloud settles OUT!
Game over.
Coquitlam was crowned District Champs, defeating White Rock by a score of 13-12.
