Matthew Shanley hit a two-run walk-off homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead his Coquitlam All-Stars to a dramatic 10-9 win over Hastings at the B.C. Little League Major provincial championships at Hillcrest park in Vancouver on Tuesday.
The win gives Coquitlam sole possession of first place in the seven-team tournament with three wins in three games.
Coquitlam was trailing 9-7 heading into their half of the final inning as Hastings managed to put runners across the plate in every inning until the top of the sixth.
Brady Dorwart got the All-Stars’ comeback started when he reached first base on a bunt single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
After Nolan Loverin struck out, Dorwart advanced to second on a passed ball by Hastings’ hurler Tate MacMillan to Coquitlam batter Timothy Piasentin. Dorwart then scored when Piasentin stroked a single, pulling the All-Stars to within a run..
That set the table for Shanley, who cranked a two-strike pitch and then jumped into the arms of Piasentin and the rest of his teammates after he rounded the bases and scored the winning run. It was his second homer of the game.
“It was a great result,” said Coquitlam coach Robert Piasentin after enduring a score that seesawed back and forth between the two teams all game.
Nathan Lo, who pitched the top of the sixth and gave up just one hit, was credited with the win.
In addition to Shanley’s homeruns, Kainoah Brankovic also hit a four-bagger, while Dorwart and Loverin smacked doubles.
The All-Stars, the first Coquitlam team to reach the Majors provincial championship since 2006, will try to extend their winning streak to four games when they play Highlands, the District 5 champions, this afternoon at 3 p.m. at Hillcrest Park.
