It took all 82 games for the Canadian’s to put the short season Single “A” to bed and they did it with an impressive game 3 win over Tri-City Dust Devils.
One stat that stands out is that when the C’s are leading after the 8th, they are 34-1 and if they are trailing after the 8th they are 3-32.
Vancouver sent RHP Jesse Hernandez to the mound to see him face Tri-City Dust Devils RHP Tyler Gagnon.
The C’s dropped last night’s game which was close and no one will ever know the true outcome of the call at first.
The umpire called what he saw and no one can change that.
While the C’s were one win away from a League title, today they came to play. C’s starter Jessie Hernandez nailed the first three batters.
First a “K”, second was an F-5 followed by a F-1 to end the inning. The second was three straight “K’s” and his pitches were thrown at about an average of 85 mph.
Hernandez (22) is from Grand Rapids and played last season for the Auburn Doubledays and arrived in Vancouver on the day game 7 and the riot took place.
He was watching along with Drew Permison and both mentioned “we saw things getting flipped around and we got out of there right away”. He continued “by 10 in the morning the whole city had rallied and cleaned everything up.
That showed the true colours of Vancouver”.Catching for the C’s was Pierce Rankin from Seattle who was selected in the 38th round in the 2010 draft.
Rich Miller was named the interim Manager and took over from John Schneider who took a leave due to Family matters and missed out on all the fun.
Rich is in his 10th year with the Blue Jay’s organization and is the roving outfield and base runner instructor.
He has spent almost four decades involved in ball, having spent time with the New York Met’s and the Minnesota Twins then the Blue Jay’s.
After Saturday’s game he showed the guy’s the ring he got when he was with the Met’s Single “A” team at Columbia of the South Atlantic League in 1986.
The C’s finished off Eugene and while on the road they watched “over and over” Rudy.
It’s listed as the 54th most inspiring film of all time.
It’s the story of a 5’6″ 165 lb steel mill worker who overcame all odds and lived his lifetime dream of playing for the Fighting Irish. Rich Miller told me “I have never watched one move so many times, but it seemed to inspire the guy’s”.
The Dust Devils opened the scoring in the top of the 4th when Humphries nailed a single, only to be followed by Simon hitting his second of the post-season allowing Humphries to cross the plate for a 1-0 lead.
The C’s replied in the bottom of the inning getting three runs across the plate, which included Pierce Rankin grabbing a two-run single.
This allowed Patterson and Burns to cross home plate, putting the C’s up by a lead of 3-1 Vancouver answered back in the home half of the inning putting a trio of runs on the board which included a two-run single off the bat of C Pierce Rankin.
Both 1B Kevin Patterson and 3B Andy Burns would come into count giving the C’s a 3-1 lead.
The C’s opened the game in the bottom of the 7th putting five runs across the plate, one of which included Jon Berti’s 1st homer of the play-off.
Fuenmayor managed a two-run triple that put the C’s up by 7 runs.
Both clubs traded runs in the 8th inning and finally the closer Drew Permison took control to finish off the game and give the Canadian’s the Northwest League Championship.
What a great end to the 2011 season!
Excellent game in front of 2,848 fans.
