White Rock Little League has emerged as the team to beat at the minors B.C. Little League Championships.
The seven baseball teams of nine- and 10-year-old players start the tournament with a six-game round-robin, and White Rock has powered through with a flawless 4-0 record so far.
As of Wednesday, the North Shore’s Highlands followed with three wins and one loss. Vancouver’s Little Mountain was 2-2 and hosts Jericho Little League 1-3.
Jericho Little League is putting on the tournament at Carnarvon Park each day through to the championship game at 12 p.m. July 19.
Three games are played today, July 17, before the top four teams advance to the semi-finals Saturday, July 18. The top team and fourth-place finisher square off at noon. The second- and third-place teams meet at 3:30 p.m.
“The play has been exciting to watch, the weather is exceptional, the field is holding and we have a very competitive tournament,” said the tournament host committee co-chair Cathy Young.
Jericho Little League, which formed in 1999 after the West Point Grey and Kitsilano leagues merged, recently opened a renovated concession, and Young encouraged spectators to check out the action.
“I think they’d be impressed with the level of play by these kids who are only nine and 10,” she said. “We’re in the heart of it now.”
The minors’ season ends with the B.C. Championships. The Majors, players aged 11 and 12, can advance from provincials to compete at nationals and then possibly represent Canada at the Little League World Series in August.
Majors B.C. Championship at South Vancouver
The road to Willamsport, Pa. will first go through South Vancouver.
From July 18 to 26, at Memorial Park South on East 41st Avenue, seven teams from across the province will fight for the chance to represent B.C. at the Canadian Little League championships in Ottawa from August 7 to 16. South Vancouver Little League hosts the tournament.
The opening ceremonies begin at 12 p.m. Saturday, July 18, followed by a game between the hosts and White Rock. At 7 p.m., players will show off in a skills competition and home run derby.
The championship final is set for 2 p.m. July 26.
