The Vernon Canadians began the B.C. U18 AA Baseball Championships with a flawless record. As hosts at Marshall Field, they sit at 3–0 after Friday’s morning game. Their strong play all week has nearly guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.
On opening day Thursday, the Canadians beat the Richmond City Chuckers by a 5–3 margin. Vernon’s pitching staff held the Chuckers to three runs over seven innings. The offence chipped in five runs with timely hits in the middle innings.
Later that day, Vernon thumped the North Delta Rays 13–3. A seven-run third inning broke the game open. The Canadians added runs in every remaining inning. Their defence made no costly errors behind the ace pitcher.
Friday morning brought a tougher test against the Tsawwassen A’s. Vernon edged out the pesky A’s 13–11 in a high-scoring affair. Both teams traded runs early. Vernon pulled ahead with a four-run fifth inning. Tsawwassen never quit but fell short by two runs.
Vernon will wrap up pool play at 2:45 p.m. Friday against the Ladner Red Sox, who are 2–0 so far. The winner of that match will likely claim first place in Pool B of the 10-team event. Pool winners and runners-up advance to the semifinals on Sunday at 9 a.m.
The two semifinal victors will meet for gold at 1 p.m. Sunday. All games are held on Diamonds 1 and 2 at Marshall Field. Fans can expect eight pool-play contests before the final round.
Nearby, the Salmon Arm Hornets seek their first win. They play only once today at 3 p.m. against the 3–0 Vancouver Mounties. Salmon Arm dropped both of their first two games Friday. They lost 8–5 to New West/South Burnaby, then fell 10–6 to the Tri-City Thunder of Port Coquitlam.
Salmon Arm closes its pool action Saturday, Aug. 2, at 8:45 a.m. against the Victoria SeaWolves. A win there could still earn them a semifinal spot. The Hornets must find life in their bats and tighten their defence.
With home-field advantage, the Vernon Canadians look poised to reach the final four. Their offence has scored 31 runs so far. Their pitchers have shown depth and poise under pressure. Coaches praise the team’s work ethic and focus.
This tournament offers top U18 AA talent from across British Columbia. Scouts and college recruiters attend many games. A strong showing can boost a player’s prospects. Vernon’s early success has drawn local support and media interest.
As the preliminary round ends, Vernon aims to keep its perfect mark. They will need solid pitching and timely hitting against Ladner. A first-place finish in Pool B would secure a semifinal berth with confidence. Fans will gather again Friday afternoon to cheer on the home side.
The B.C. U18 AA Baseball Championships highlight young talent and community spirit. For Vernon Canadians, a 3–0 start underscores their experience and teamwork. If they maintain this form, they could play for gold on Sunday afternoon.
