Two Richmond baseball teams clinched their division titles in the Lower Mainland Baseball Association (LMBA) playoffs.
Last weekend, the Richmond Red Sox were crowned champions of the 45+ Ray Edger Division, and the Rainiers secured the 30+ Division.
For the second year in a row, the Red Sox won their division by defeating crosstown rival Burnaby Pirates 10 to four on Sept. 14.
The Red Sox trailed two to zero until the bottom of the fourth inning, where the Red Sox made an immediate comeback by scoring five runs and taking the lead five to two.
Four more runs in the bottom of the fifth took the scoreline to a commanding nine to two – the Pirates attempted the comeback with two runs, but it was too little, too late.
Coach Warren Oikawa said he feels immensely proud of the team for their dominance this season and for winning the championship back-to-back.
Although this final wasn’t as close or intense as last year’s final, he commended his players for their solid performance.
“Bottom of the 4th we got five runs and right away I thought we got this game,” he said. “Our guys played really well.”
“We’re trying to go for three in a row now, that would be spectacular.”
One of their main strengths is the depth and balance in the squad. However, the loss of a couple important players next season could pose a challenge.
The Red Sox struggled early in the season with a double loss, prompting Oikawa to change the team’s mindset.
“You’re trying to do too much; when you over try and over think,” he said. “Don’t think about it, just do it.”
On Sept. 15, the Richmond Rainiers also had a taste of glory after defeating the Chilliwack Cubs four to two, becoming the first eighth place team in the LMBA’s 30-year history to win a championship.
Coach Steve Dogget said injuries and the challenge of getting consistent lineups definitely took a toll on the team’s performance, ending the season at the last spot.
“It wasn’t a great season,” he said. “But when you get everybody back when it's time to make a bit of a playoff run, you get a bit of luck and play some good baseball, anything can happen I guess.”
This is Dogget’s first time winning the championship in his two years as Rainiers coach, and said he feels optimistic for what the future holds for the team.
“This is a promising look for the next few years,” he said. “I think everybody will feel pretty good about the future; it should be fun.”
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