Last weekend, the Quesnel Mosquito Blue Jays were in Abbortsford facing off against the best young players in the province.
It’s not often the Quesnel Mosquito Blue Jays get to go up against the Lower Mainland teams, as they usually face off against Prince George, a tough team, in playdowns.
This year, however, to spread the passion for baseball in the hockey dominated north, the Blue Jays were asked down to play at the Mosquito, under 10, provincials.
There the team faced a pool of tough competition from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, including teams from Richmond, Abbortsford, Cloverdale and Oceanside.
The level of competition forced the team to push themselves beyond – a feat they managed well, according to their head coach Tom Annet.
“We definitely improved over the course of the tournament,” he said.
“By the end of the tournament everyone was hitting well and making good plays.”
Going into the tournament, most of the players were fairly inexperienced.
In fact, at an early tournament the team attended in anticipation of provincials, almost half the team were facing a live pitcher for the first time Annett said.
Not only did the team work harder at the tournament, but the parents and players practiced beyond their normal season, committing extra time to practice, well beyond their usual season, which impressed the coaches.
“I’m proud of the kids and the sacrifices the parents made,” Annett said.
The team played four games in total in Abbortsford, testing their mettle against each team in their pool, including a final game against Abbortsford, the eventual winners of the provincial.
Though Abbortsford still won the game, Annett said the Blue Jays were very competitive in the game, making smart plays and making Abbortsford work for the victory.
“Quesnel should be very proud of their efforts,” Annett said.
Annett along with coaches Tim Barker and Ron Miciuk would like to thank the sponsors that made the trip and the team possible.