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B.C. Little Leaguers to be honoured at Blue Jays game; PM offers congratulations

Surrey baseball entourage ready to fly home after being on the road for more than a month
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Whalley Little League players Ian Huang (left) and Cole Balkovec, wearing their Team Canada gear, get ready to go live on ESPN害羞草研究所檚 broadcast of a game Thursday at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo: twitter.com/WLLBALL)

A summer of fun and games isn害羞草研究所檛 over just yet for Whalley Major Allstars.

Canada害羞草研究所檚 entry in the Little League World Series lost an elimination game Wednesday in Williamsport, capping a spirited run at the Pennsylvanian town害羞草研究所檚 fabled baseball tournament.

The Surrey-based squad fell 9-4 to a Puerto Rican team in front of more than 2,600 spectators.

The teams were supposed to play Tuesday, but the game was rained out and rescheduled for Wednesday, with the loser eliminated and the winner moving on to play in Thursday害羞草研究所檚 International bracket semifinal.

害羞草研究所 .

Heading into action Wednesday, Whalley had won two games (against Spain and Mexico) and lost one (to Panama) during the 10-day tournament, which closes with the championship game Sunday.

The Whalley contingent will remain in Williamsport until early that day, when they害羞草研究所檒l travel by bus to Toronto to be honoured at a Blue Jays game, with VIP treatment, before flying home.

It害羞草研究所檒l be another long day of travel for the players, coaches and families but, as bench boss Mike Marino told the Now-Leader, 害羞草研究所渨e害羞草研究所檙e all used to it now.害羞草研究所

The team has been on the road for more than a month, after winning the provincial championship in Trail and the national title in Mirabel, Quebec. From there, they traveled directly to Williamsport.

Marino said his players were disappointed by Wednesday害羞草研究所檚 loss, but were still having fun.

害羞草研究所淭his group is funny that way, they害羞草研究所檙e so resilient. They害羞草研究所檙e enjoying the moment, enjoying each other, just like we害羞草研究所檇 won today.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e sad but proud, you know,害羞草研究所 the coach continued.

害羞草研究所淚 really thought we were right there with them. It害羞草研究所檚 disappointing but awesome because we really thought it was a winable game for us, it really was.害羞草研究所

Following the game, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his congratulations in a tweet.

害羞草研究所淭o the young sluggers of (Whalley Little League) in Surrey 害羞草研究所 your great run at the Little League World Series made fans proud in BC and across the country,害羞草研究所 he wrote. 害羞草研究所淐ongratulations on all your success in Canada and in facing the world害羞草研究所檚 best. Job well done.害羞草研究所

On Friday, the team will play an exhibition game against Team Australia, for fun.

Marino said his players should be proud of getting to the Elite Eight round of the 16-team tournament.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l take it,害羞草研究所 he said. 害羞草研究所淚f someone said to me you害羞草研究所檇 go 2-2 in the World Series, would you take that? I害羞草研究所檇 say hell yeah, every day.害羞草研究所

This is the sixth time Whalley Little League has earned a trip to the World Series (previously in 1973, 1978, 1997, 2005 and 2006), and the 21st time that a team from British Columbia has earned the nod, including 13 of the last 14 tournaments.

Whalley害羞草研究所檚 13-player roster includes Joey Marino, Andre Juco, Kai Sheck, Ian Huang, Zeaden Pleasants, Nate Colina, Colten Myers, Jaren Ashbee, Ty Grewal, Cole Balkovec, Dio Gama, Jordan Jaramillo and Mattias Brisson. They害羞草研究所檙e coached by Marino, Lucky Pawa and Dean Mayencourt.



Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news for Surrey Now-Leader and Black Press Media
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