North Stars win provincials

Submitted Photo

The Fort St. John North Stars Pee Wee fastball team proudly display their medals and plaque for winning first place in the Pee Wee C Provincial Championships in Langford. Back row (L-R): Assistanct coach Bruce Mitcheel, Kameron Furlong, Alex Ramsay, Tory Mitchell, Dylan Kassian, Skye Stoney, Ryan Demers, coach Kelly Kassian, manager Rob Demers. Front row: Justin Hilstad, Tyker Purcha, Jayden Offizier, Andrew Taylor and Austin Glen.

Submitted Photo

The Fort St. John North Stars Pee Wee fastball team proudly display their medals and plaque for winning first place in the Pee Wee C Provincial Championships in Langford. Back row (L-R): Assistanct coach Bruce Mitcheel, Kameron Furlong, Alex Ramsay, Tory Mitchell, Dylan Kassian, Skye Stoney, Ryan Demers, coach Kelly Kassian, manager Rob Demers. Front row: Justin Hilstad, Tyker Purcha, Jayden Offizier, Andrew Taylor and Austin Glen.

The Fort St. John North Stars Pee Wee fastball team returned home as provincial champions.

A very proud coach Kelly Kassian said it was really cool to see his team win, especially with a 10-1 win over Richmond at the Pee Wee C provincial in Langford.

"Every game they got better and better and less mistakes...the final game (there were) no mistakes and we won the game...They were a happy bunch," he said.

The North Stars took a 13-0 win over Sooke in the first game of their round robin. They then went on to take a 14-6 win over Nanaimo with Dylan Kassian hitting the team’s first-ever home run, right over the fence.

The North Stars took their first loss of the tournament to Richmond 13-9. But Skye Storey hit a grand slam in the second inning.

“It was awesome. Loaded bases and centre field and pretty much straight,” said Kassian.

The North Stars capped off the round robin with a 12-9 victory over Kootenay.

Then they took another win, this time 20-5, over Kootenay in the first round of qualifying, but lost 11-3 to Richmond.

The semifinal was the biggest nail biter of the tournament, with the North Stars squeaking out a narrow 10-9 victory, which came down to the last batter, Ryan Demers.

“We had a runner on first and a runner on third and Ryan Demers hit one straight up the centre and their short stop made an awesome play, touched second, threw it to first for a double play,” Kassian said, adding that the umpire had a hard time calling it, but ultimately called it safe, allowing Tyker Purcha score the winning run.

"Even knowing the worst we’re going to do is bronze that was pretty cool. In the end playing for gold...the worst we’re going to do is silver, but we’re not here for silver, we’re here for gold," said Kassian.

After two losses to Richmond, and having to play directly after the semifinal, it was astounding that the North Stars powered to a 10-1 win for the gold medal.

“(It was the) first game ever that we played we had zero errors. That was the difference in the game, they played absolutely perfect.”

There was a skills competition where Dylan Kassian won second in the most accurate throw contest and Jayden Offizier taking second in the fastest base runner category.

For the most part, this team has been together since Squirts. In their first year of Squirts, they finished last at provincials, they placed eighth the second year and then fourth last season.

Kassian was proud with all the support from Fort St. John parents and grandparents.

“We had the most fans I think out of all the teams that were down there and they were local teams,” he said.

“Thanks to everybody, the sponsors and all the volunteers for helping out. Without that, it’s pretty tough.”

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