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Smooth path to Hopwo baseball title for Rockies

Duncan squad compiles five straight victories in Chemainus tournament
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Emmett Scyrup gets ready to fire his best pitch for the Rockies. (Photo by Don Bodger)

The Duncan Rockies’ journey to the championship of the Larry Hopwo U11 baseball tournament in Chemainus was anything but rocky.

The Rockies encountered smooth sailing in the 12-team event at the Chemainus Ball Park, winning five straight games by a combined score of 43-24.

“We had a great tournament,” noted head coach Brad Scafe. “Every kid on the team contributed at some point in the tournament to help us win all five games. It was a great tournament put on by the Hopwo family. Our boys had a lot of fun that weekend.”

The Rockies opened with a 13-3 win over Salt Spring Island (Little) and then beat a succession of other Duncan teams to take first place. They prevailed 11-8 over the Blue Jays, 6-3 over the Giants, 5-4 over the Pirates and 8-6 over the Dodgers in the championship game.

The final game ended in dramatic fashion.

“They had a man on second with one out,” noted Scafe.

But the coach’s son, Sheamus Scafe, played the hero by catching a hot line drive and then catching the runner on second off the bag for a double play.

“The boys really gelled and played well,” summed up Brad Scafe.

Pitching was especially a strength, even among those with limited or no experience.

“We had to use a few players who had never pitched before,” Scafe said.

Part of the Rockies’ coaching personnel has a built-in connection to their Junior B hockey days playing for the Kerry Park Islanders in the early 1990s. Scafe, Chad Erickson and Brent Scyrup were all members of the ‘92 Islanders from 30 years ago and all have kids on the Rockies.

Sheamus Scafe, Alex Erickson and Emmett Scyrup form the next generation of familiar family teammates.

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Sheamus Scafe looks closely at the ball, as he’s about to make solid contact for the Rockies. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Sheamus Scafe advances to second base standing up. (Photo by Don Bodegr)
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Jacob Firth at bat. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Coach Brad Scafe gives the Rockies a pre-game pep talk. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Duncan Rockies went undefeated in the Hopwo U11 baseball tournament. Front row, from left: Austin Christian, Emmett Scyrup, Tye Faris, Cason Van Jaarsveld, Sheamus Scafe. Middle: Kai Rittaler, Owen McFadden, Cash Wilson, Jacob Wirth, Alex Erickson, Dylan Van Wieren. Back: head coach Brad Scafe, assistant coach Brent Scyrup, assistant coach Chad Erickson, assistant coach Nate Van Wieren, assistant coach Vic Wilson. (Photo submitted)