Relaxation may be good for the soul, but for the Coquitlam All-Stars, it was also fuel for a 6-1 victory over Alberta Sunday at the Canadian Little League championships in Ancaster, Ont. It was the team’s third victory in as many games.
All-Stars coach Robert Piasentin said the team’s rest day after two victories to open the tournament couldn’t have come at a better time.
“Our boys had been in town since Tuesday, constantly busy with practice and tournament commitments,” he said. “The relaxation showed in our game as most of the boys were much calmer and ready to play.”
That sense of ease showed up and down the All-Stars lineup as no player had more than one RBI against the winless team from Alberta.
“The boys played solid defensively, making no real mistakes on the field,” Piasentin added. “It was a great team effort.”
Piero Leon-Carney pitched three strong innings, followed by Brady Dorwart, who was on the mound for two and 1/3 innings and Nathan Lo got the last two outs.
Still, Piasentin said the team has to remain focussed, as they gird for showdowns against two teams that are also undefeated so far, Ontario and Quebec.
“The boys know we are getting to crunch time now,” he said, adding the team was in a similar position at the recent provincial championships and proceeded to lose two straight games.
