PONY LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME
LANGLEY PIRATES 5 @ LIGHTNING 2
Give Pitrates pitcher Allingham all the credit in the world for the win as he allowed only 2 hits in 5 innings. We started off slow as we walked 3 of the 1st 4 batters. Brought in Watt with 2 outs in the 1st and got the strike out, but 2 runs had already scored. Watt got the loss despite striking out 7. Pirates capalized on every baserunner where as we didn't. They stranded 3, we stranded 7 runners.
JUNE 23
DISTRICT 3 LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME
LANGLEY RED SOX 5 @ LIGHTNING 8
The Lightning exploded with 7 consecutive hits in the 5th inning led off by S. Ross' triple which got the bench fired up. Ratcliffe, S. Ross (win) and Tolhurst pitched. Atherton, S. Ross, Ratcliffe, McFadden, Vachon & Brinson recorded 2 hits each.
JUNE 24
DISTRICT 3 LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME
COQUITLAM 6 @ LIGHTNING 10
Tolhurst scores 3 runs on 1 hit a walk and a hit batter...hey, anyway to get on base..way to go TNT! Watt, Vachon & T. Ross record 2 rbis each. S. Ross, Wadden (win) and Atherton pitched.
JUNE 24
PONY LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME
BELLINGHAM BIRCH EQUIPMET 3 @ LIGHTNING 7
I feared this day, a double header, both playoff games on a hot day.
We came out winning both games of the double header which didn't happen that often all season. Ratcliffe scores twice on 2 walks, McFadden gets his first homer of the season, Tolhurst scores 2 more runs (not bad...5 runs in 2 games from the #5 spot). T. Ross & Watt produce in the #6 & 7 spots. Watt pitches another good outing allowing 1 run on 2 hits, 1 walk and 5 k's i 3 innings. Atherton gets the win coming in with 1 out in the 4th and pitching the 5th (getting 4 outs in the inning...I hate dropped 3rd strikes!). Brinson & Tolhurst shared the rest of the duties.
JUNE 25
PONY LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME
LANGLEY PIRATES 8 @ LIGHTNING 9
A long, long game with suspense, drama and a double protest.
McFadden gets his second home run in consecutive games. Tolhurst & Vachon get 2 rbis, T. Ross gets 3. With the game tied in the bottom of the 7th, with one out, Ratcliffe walks and steals second, McFadden advances Ratcliffe to 3rd on a ground out. Langley issues intentional walks to Atherton and Tolhurst to load the bases with 2 outs. With a 1 & 1 count Troy Ross flares a single into right field to win the game.S. Ross and Wadden (win) shared the pitching.
JUNE 26
DISTRICT 3 LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME
LIGHTNING FORFEIT GAME
Lack of players due to school commitments.
JUNE 27
LIGHTNING 1 @ LYNDEN 2 (9 innings)
Atherton pitches 7 innings with no earned runs, only 4 hits, 13 k's and only 3 walks. he also scored our only run in the top of the 7th to send the game into extra innings on a lead off lopper that the 3rd baseman threw away sending him to 2nd. Tolhurst advances him to 3rd on a ground ball hit to the right side of the diamond as a good team hitter would do. T. Ross delivers for the second game in a row with a sacrifice fly that scored Atherton. PONY pitching rules only allow a pitcher to pitch 7 innings in a game. S. Ross came into pitch the 8th & 9th. Lynden scored the winning run on a sac fly that we almost had at the plate.
The net result was we finished 3rd in the District 3 playoffs and 3rd in the PONY League playoffs, the same as we finished during the regular season.
Our overall season record was 29 wins, 15 losses and 1 tie. We pitched 15 different pitchers on a 12 man roster. Only Shane Ross and Morgan Brinson were the only 2 players not injured during the season. I'm very pleased with our .655 winning percentage record, especially when you consider all our injuries we sustained..
To all the players, coaches and especially the supportive parents (and grandparents), I thank you for a very enjoyable season.
Best wishes to the 14 year olds who move up to Senior Ball next season and to the 13 year olds...see you next season.
...Lloyd