The Chilliwack peewee baseball Giants are living proof that it’s not how you start but how you finish that matters.
After starting the 2017 spring season 3-6, the Giants were the longest of long-shots to win their league’s title.
But the local lads never stopped believing.
They ripped off 11 wins in 12 games, roaring back to win a championship that seemed so unlikely when the season began.
Their moment of triumph came June 18 in Abbotsford.
The Giants played three playoff games, opening with a 12-1 win over Mission. Starting pitcher Josh Werry threw a no-hitter and was one walked batter away from a perfect game.
Werry went wire-to-wire, striking out eight as Chilliwack moved on to face Aldergrove.
Rickie Murchie and Malachi Sache combined for five base hits, four runs batted in and four runs scored in a 13-9 win.
Easton Mills added to the attack with a hit, a stolen base and an RBI.
Pitcher Carter Horvath threw 61 pitches and fanned six Aldergrove batters, catapulting his Cougars into the gold-medal match vs the Abbotsford Blue Jays.
Rain threatened to halt the game, but the teams played through and Chilliwack won 12-4.
The Giants were led by the bats and base running of Hari Dhaliwal, Ty Cox, Ben Dods, Riley Kwak and Zach Cavanagh.
Closer Connor Lemon pitched the last three innings.
The bases were loaded in the bottom of the last inning, but Lemon dug deep and struck out three straight batters to seal the deal.
The team was coached by Barry Douglas, Jules Horvath, Glenn Havery and Natalie Sache.