Local minor peewee baseball team, the Lake Cowichan Lakers, are in full swing participating in a series of exhibition games that, if they play well, could see them participating in the provincials which take place in Rutland, Kelowna from August 2, through to the 6.
The team has already played well, having been up against the Ladysmith team on June 27. The Lakers won with a score of 16-12. They played against the Salt Spring Island team as part of a double header on June 30. The Lakers won both games with a score of 15-10 and 10-5.
On July 7, the team played another double header. Against the Duncan team, the score was 4-1 Duncan.
“We were right with them the whole game, a couple key hits away from making the comeback,” said head coach Micah Anderson.
Against the Ladysmith team the Lakers struggled a bit more.
“The heat and the back to back games was the factor in that game,” says Anderson. The final score was 14-4.
The next home game takes place on Sunday, July 15. Game times are 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
On July 26, 27, and 28, the Lakers will take part in a 10 team tournament in Victoria. The top three teams from the tournament will move on to the provincials in August.
“We have an excellent chance to make the provincials as three teams advance from the island out of 10 teams. We will have to pitch well and score lots of runs to make it, but these kids are a great group of kids with lots of talent, so I am excited for the challenge,” said Anderson.
The last time a Lake Cowichan team made it to the provincials was in 2010. The team was the mosquito Lakers.
“They made it through the zones and went on to win silver medal at the provincials,” says baseball mom, Dennise Eddy.
The team is also looking for some community support.
For two days, Friday, July 13, and Friday, July 20, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m., the team will be holding a hot dog fundraiser at Country Grocer.
Proceeds will go towards helping the families pay for zone tournament fees, as well as provincial tournament fees.