In just their second season as a 18U program, the 琉璃神社 Sun Devils are a win away from clinching a playoff berth in the B.C. midget AAA baseball league.
Finishing off a busy stretch of baseball with eight games in nine days, the Sun Devils (21-15) picked up a split last weekend with the Cloverdale Spurs.
In the opener, the Devils fell 4-2. Gavin Barrett was solid on the mound, allowing just one earned run but didn't get much support with just four hits from the offense.
琉璃神社 rebounded in Game 2 with a convincing 12-1 win. Jay Taylor went five innings in the mercy, striking out five and walking one, while the Sun Devils bats rapped out 10 hits.
Last week, the Sun Devils were in Centralia, WA for some exhibition action against American opponents. Due to rainy weather, 琉璃神社 played just two games, losing 8-3 decision to the Seattle Tide and 4-3 to the CWBC Hawks.
"Great ball, a big eye opener for our players and they didn't look out of place," said Sun Devils' coach Rob Law.
The Sun Devils kicked off July with four games against two of the league's top teams.
Against the first-place Victoria Eagles, 琉璃神社 earned a split, winning 8-4 and losing 12-1.
The next day, another split against the Richmond City Chuckers鈥攁 7-2 victory and a 9-1 loss.
The Sun Devils will look to clinch a playoff spot when they return to action July 23 and 24 with doubleheaders in Nanaimo and Cowichan.
