Hoping to ride the momentum of a three-game sweep of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, the Okanagan College Coyotes take aim at second place in the Canadian College Baseball Conference this weekend.
The Coyotes (6-5) will play host to the newly formed University of the Fraser Valley Cascades (6-2) on Friday (beginning at 3 p.m.) at Elks Stadium in what will be the first half of a home-and-home weekend doubleheader series. The two teams will meet again on Saturday in Chilliwack for a pair of games.
Outscoring the Kamloops-based WolfPack 27-7 (13-2, 2-0 and 12-5) and outhitting their Thompson-Okanagan rivals 34-18, the Coyotes will be looking for more of the same as they continue their regular season CCBC schedule.
The Coyotes gave an indication of what was the come early on as they combined for 17 hits in Kamloops, including three from both leadoff batter, Davis Todosichuk of Kelowna and Trevor Mlait of West Kelowna, in the lopsided opener against TRU.
First baseman Jared Frew, third baseman Brandon Graham and Dylan Faulkner all hit home runs in the onslaught.
Defensively, Chris Wyslobocki of Toronto had another solid start on the mound, going seven innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six to record the win. West Kelowna’s Wyatt Hummel held the Pack scoreless in his two innings of relief and struck out three batters in the process.
A pair of solo home runs — by Todosichuk to lead off the game and a fourth-inning blast by Frew in the fourth inning — were all the Coyotes would need in the first game of the twinbill on Sunday.
While starting pitcher, Aiden Mordecai, struggled with his command, he continually made the right pitches to escape damage over six innings and recorded the win. The Cloverdale product allowed five hits and struck out three along the way.
Reliever Zac Yandeau contributed two scoreless innings and Trevor Brigden closed the door the rest of the way.
In the final game of the weekend, Graham hit his third home run of the season and Jared Dulaba finished with four runs-batted-in to lead the host Yotes to another easy victory. Second baseman, Eric Junnola added a pair of hits and scored twice for the winners.
On the mound, Cole Parussini went six innings, scattering six hits and striking out six batters while issuing seven walks. The three runs he gave up were the first earned against the OC pitching staff in over 30 innings.
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