With a first-place finish in B.C.’s 18U AAA league already secured, the Kelowna Sun Devils will be on the island this weekend fine tuning their game in preparation for provincials.
The Sun Devils will close out the 2017 regular season with a pair of doubleheaders, Saturday and Sunday, against the second-place Eagles.
Then the following weekend, from July 27 to 30, the Sun Devils will serve as the hosts for the B.C. 18U AAA championship.
Kelowna (27-7) clinched top spot last weekend, taking three of four games from the hometown North Shore Padres.
In the opener, ace Gavin Barrett was sharp, going nine innings and allowing just one earned run in a 2-1 Sun Devils’ loss.
“By far his best outing of the season,” said Kelowna coach Rob Law. “He only gave up six hits, we just couldn’t get that timely hit to pull it out for him. He was great, so proud of Barrett.”
Noah Ringness-Law (.460) had two hits and the lone RBI.
In Game 2, rookie Dreyton Nelmes took to the hill and earned his fourth victory of the season in a 4-1 win.
Nathan Ringness-Law came on in relief and went 3 1/3to pick up the save.
Nathan Ringness-Law(.377) also contributed offensively going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
On Sunday, the Sun Devils prevailed 8-5 in the first game of the day.
Spencer Klassen made his first start of the season and went four scoreless innings to pick up the win.
“Klassen was great, a few errors defensively behind him, but he stuck with it to get the job done.”
Nathan Ringness-Law came on in relief and picked up his second save in as many games.
Rookie Jaimes Guidon took charge offensively, going 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Nathan Ringness-Law had a bases clearing double in the second to put the Sun Devils ahead for good.
In the series finale, the Sun Devils won 6-5.
Senior Jay Taylor took to the mound and went 3 2/3 and left with the no decision. Nathan Ringness-Law (4-1, 2.14 ERA) came on relief and went 3 1/3, striking out four and not allowing an earned run for his fourth win of the season.
Jaimes Guidon once again led the offense going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.