Rick Kupchuk,
Black Press
A week after throwing a rare no-hitter, Fraser Valley Chiefs pitcher Ty Walker did it again.
The 18-year-old from Sardis mowed down 21 of the 23 North Shore Twins batters he faced Saturday afternoon at Whalley Ball Park, earning himself and the Chiefs a 2-0 win in the first game of a B.C. Premier Baseball League (BCPBL) doubleheader.
The Chiefs swept North Shore, winning the second game 5-2.
It was the fourth win in as many starts this season for Walker, who attends the baseball academy at Sands Secondary School in North Delta.
The six-foot-two left-hander also no-hit the first place Langley Blaze, nine days after allowing the Abbotsford Cardinals just two hits in a 7-0 complete-game win.
Walker finds himself among the league leaders in most pitching categories.
His 42 strikeouts are tied for first in the BCPBL, he leads the league with three shutouts, is tied for second with four wins, and is fourth in ERA (earned run average) at .81.
His batting average against is a microscopic .037.
Walker did get some defensive support Saturday.
Third baseman Braeden Allemann dove to snare a ball hit down the baseline, then fired it to first base for an out. And catcher Brody Hawkins chased a bunt down the third baseline before his throw beat the batter by a step.
But aside from those two outstanding plays, Walker “was a surgeon,” said Chiefs head coach Ernie Hawkins. “He walked just one batter, and hit another.”
The Chiefs scored the only two runs they would need in the fourth inning.
Declan Murphy tripled, then scored on a single from Jovan Ewusie. Brody Hawkins then doubled to bring in Ewusie for an insurance run.
Fraser Valley added a second win over North Shore in game two, with Dylan Rehmke getting the victory after throwing six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three hits while striking out five batters.
Murphy, Hawkins and Justin Pilgrim were credited with RBIs, as Fraser Valley improved their record this season to 9-3 (won-lost), just two and a half games back of the 14-3 Blaze.
“With the returning players we had on defence, I figured we would be a top four team,” said Hawkins. “But 9-3? Probably not. Our pitching has been a plus, but we could use a few more timely hits. We’ve been leaving a few guys on base. But I’m happy with 9-3, for sure.”
The Chiefs were to play a doubleheader against the Twins Sunday in North Vancouver, but the games were rained out and rescheduled to next Monday.
Fraser Valley is at home tonight (Wednesday) against the Abbotsford Cardinals, then travel to Vancouver Island for two games with the Victoria Eagles Saturday afternoon.
Get BCPBL info online at www.bcpbl.com/