Ten seasons after the programsa国际传媒檚 first pitch, the are celebrating their first ever league title.
Geoff Whitesa国际传媒檚 Coyotes roared back from a slow start at the season-ending tournament in Kamloops to claim the championship.
After starting the six-team tourney with a 1-2 record, OC reeled off five consecutive must-wins, sealing the deal on Sunday afternoon with a dramatic 10-9 victory over the Fraser Valley Cascades in the final.
2018 CCBC CHAMPIONS! These guys battle their butts off having to win a tie breaker, semi and final all within 24hrs. Proud of this group!
sa国际传媒� Coach Jared Johnson (@JacquesStraap)
Trailing by one, the Cascades loaded up the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning. But pitcher Wyatt Hummel induced the final UFV batter into a pop up for the final out and the celebration was on.
sa国际传媒淚t was a wild game, back and forth, it had a bit of everything,sa国际传媒� said White, the Coyotessa国际传媒� head coach and program director.
sa国际传媒淭here were some really nice defensive plays, doubles, triples, home runs, everything you could possibly see in a great final game. It was nice to come out on the winning end, a great reward for all the hard work everybody put in all season.sa国际传媒�
The tournament was a true test of both mental and physical resolve for the Coyotes. OC played eight games in four days, including a Saturday-night tiebreaker, the semifinal and championship final all in a span of just 18 hours.
Conversely, the Cascades went a perfect 5-0 in the round robin and, and with a bye to the final, were well-rested on Sunday.
The gruelling schedule was particularly taxing on the Coyotessa国际传媒� pitching staff but White was proud of the way his players responded and persevered.
sa国际传媒淚t was a real struggle at the beginning, we didnsa国际传媒檛 pitch very well,sa国际传媒� said White, who is assisted by Jared Johnson. sa国际传媒淏ut after the third game, the guys really buckled down and did the job. It was a tough grind, we had our backs against the wall the last two days, but the whole team just battled all weekend.sa国际传媒�
White, who has been with the Coyotes since Day 1, was especially happy for the teamsa国际传媒檚 six graduating playerssa国际传媒擩ared Dulaba, Brandon Graham, Zan Yandeau, Brandon Becking, Jared Frew and Cole Parusinnisa国际传媒攚ho mark their departure from the program with a CCBC title.
sa国际传媒淭his group of seniors has been here for half the lifespan of the program,sa国际传媒� said White. sa国际传媒淚t was nice to see them go out with their degrees and certificates and win a championship at the same time.sa国际传媒�
As for marking the Coyotessa国际传媒� 10th anniversary with a conference crown, White cansa国际传媒檛 conceive of a better reward.
sa国际传媒淭he program has come a long way from where we were at in the beginning,sa国际传媒� said White, whose team had its best ever regular season finish at 20-8. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e been close before, wesa国际传媒檝e had some good teams in the past, so itsa国际传媒檚 nice to see these guys finish it off they way they wanted. A lot of hard work has gone into this. It was a sweet way to close it out.sa国际传媒�
The Coyotes were well represented on the CCBC all-conference team.
Davis Todosichuk, Noah Wood-Jolivet and Trevor Brigden were named to the first squad, while Erick Junnola, Chris Wyslobocki and Trevor Mlait made the second team.
Individual awards were handed out to Brandon Graham as the league leader in home runs (5), Jared Frew who compiled the most RBIs, and Trevor Brigden who won CCBC Pitcher of the Year.
The Coyotes also won team awards for best ERA (.380) and most home runs.
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