The Chilliwack mosquito AAA baseball Cougars now have their provincial championship banner hanging at Fairfield Island.
The local team won Chilliwack’s first-ever mosquito title at provincials in August, and gathered at their home diamond two weekends ago to remember the triumph. They had plenty to reminisce about.
Provincials were held in Richmond.
Before any games were played, Dylan Ohlsen won the home-run derby and was the only competitor to hit one over the outfield fence.
Dylan Merritt, Shawn MacMillan, Mike Fitzsimmons and Jesse Howden pitched Chilliwack past Surrey 7-5 in the tournament opener. They followed with a 7-3 win over Nanaimo, with Liam Scherbey hitting a triple.
Alden Leiper, Scherbey, Levi Moorman and Brendan Schultz pitched the Cougars past Ladner 13-2 in game three, with Ohlsen, Wil Kushnyrk, Travis Halladay, Scherbey, Merritt and Howden recording multi-hit games.
A 9-8 loss to Duncan landed the Cougars in a semi-final with Victoria’s Pirates. Chilliwack won 14-4 behind the outstanding pitching of Ohlsen. He was an offensive force as well, clubbing a home run and a double. Halladay had two doubles in that one.
The game for gold pitted Chilliwack against the Abbotsford Angels. Merritt started on the mound, allowing one run through three innings. He chipped in offensively with a double, triple and bunt.
Chilliwack was coached by Dean Scherbey, Jared Moorman and Chris Merritt.