Home Opener A Family Outing

Photo’s D. Laird Allan/Sportswave

Attending opening night for Sportswave saw the first order of business was to arrange pick-up for media accreditation passes from the Canadian’s media relations/play by play broadcaster Tyler Zickle. 

For those unsure and missing his predecessor, Tyler is in his fourth season in the Toronto Blue Jays organization and seventh in Minor League Baseball.

Before the C’s, Tyler served as the Director of Promotions & Entertainment and Road Radio Broadcaster for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. 

I was fortunate to get to know Tyler earlier last year when he first got his appointment with the C’s and is a welcome addition to our contact list and in his new role and second full season he has embraced it with nothing less than professional!

After passes were obtained and prior to entering the stadium I met up with the Lavallee family who along with around fourteen family and friends to cheer Brent on.

It took a while to organize, but we were able to arrange for a photo of everyone in the stands for more of  a “keepsake” for Mom and Dad than anyone else.

There was lots of pre game festivities with player introductions along with the opening pitch.

The first pitch was thrown out by Mr. Huculak, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in British Columbia.

Despite the 6-5 loss by Jay’s affiliate this level of ball is much higher than the previous level of Single A ball clearly on display in front of over 4,400 vocal fans.

The Emeralds send LHP Seth Corry (6’2”-195ib) to the mound while the C;s sent RHP Sem Robberse (6’3”-195ib) to the mound who calls Woudenberg Netherlands.

As a point of interest the main source of income is raising livestock and the cultivation of tobacco noting that most people work out of town.

The C’s started the game sending three up in a shortened top of the first that saw a unique start for the Emeralds pitcher.

Corry started throwing his first pitch and was quickly taken out of the line up after he threw his second pitch that went high and wide to the back stop.

Emerald’s GM, their trainer and the Ump’s went to the mound and after a short discussion he was quickly relieved and made his way to the dugout in relief.

Eugene got on the scoreboard first managing a pair of two runs in the second, adding another in the third jumping out to a 3-0 lead to the disbelief of C’s supporters.

Canadian supporters had their first chance to cheer in the bottom of the third that saw Trevor Schwecke hammer his second of the season into the C’s bullpen, cutting the score to two runs.

The C’s managed to tie the game adding two runs in the bottom of the 5th that saw Harry Ray ground one to LF getting on first, followed by a double by Leo Jimenez putting runners on second and third.

Addison Barger sent one deep to the wall on a triple, scoring both Ray and Jimenez tying the game at three only to be followed by the C’s ground crew dance-off to the  delight of the crowd.

The top of the sixth saw a pitching change by the C’s as they sent Burlington Ontario native Alex Nolan (6’4”-200il) to the mound to the delight of Canadian supporters.

The top of the seventh saw the Emerald’s score two runs only to be short lived that saw C’s even the score for a second time in the bottom of the seventh.

Garrett Spain was walked followed by a double off the bat of Ray who delivered his third double of the night that saw Barger hit a two-RBI single evening the score at 5-5.

San Fran’s Giants Marco Luciano #1 prospect hit a one-out solo HR managing to silence the C’s supporters in their home opening debut for the 2022 season.

Sem Robberse worked five innings, allowed five hits, three runs, no walks and managed to strike out four. 

Alex Nolan and Jimmy Burnette (L, 1-1) combined on three hits and eight strikeouts over the last four innings.

Ray’s three-hit performance paced the offense while Barger’s four RBI established a new single-game high for a Canadians hitter this year.

The series continues at the Nat and if you are unable to attend catch the action on AM 650 that has Tyler Zickle with the call.

Interesting enough Wednesday’s game was a rain-out and will be played as part of a double header with both games being 7 innings and the first pitch at 1:05.

Thursday’s game is scheduled for 7:05 pm that will have Southpaw Naswell Paulino on the mound for Vancouver.

He is opposed by (RHP) Prelander Berroa.

Vancouver will wear their 1996 throwback jerseys to celebrate the inaugural Throwback Thursday at The Nat. 

Tickets are available at CanadiansBaseball.com.