Through the first five days of the Canadian Little League Baseball Championships, the White Rock All-Stars have been the class of Glace Bay, N.S.
The B.C. representatives at the Nova Scotia-based tournament are a sparkling 4-0 in round-robin play – the only undefeated team among the seven competing – and have already clinched a weekend playoff berth.
The White Rock 12-year-olds have outscored their opponents by a 38-8 margin thus far, with their most recent victory coming Tuesday when they clobbered the Maritimes 10-0.
Ethan Scardina led the way with a pair of home runs in the mercy-rule shortened game that lasted just four innings.
On Monday, in White Rock’s 10-0 win over Quebec – it, too, lasted just four frames – Scardina continued his torrid hitting streak by going yard again for the victors.
White Rock has also won 9-2 over Ontario and opened the tournament Saturday with a 9-6 win over Saskatchewan.
“The boys played little nervous in the opening game after having a bye on Day 1 of the competition,” said White Rock coach Jeff Crossley. “But have steadily gotten better and better.”
Crossley said his troops were “much more relaxed” for the second game, in which they beat a “very good team” from East Nipeon, Ont.
Tate Dearing was on the mound to earn the win in that game, and White Rock leadoff hitter Jared Crossley had four hits.
White Rock took on the hosts from Glace Bay (3-1) Wednesday afternoon after Peace Arch News’ deadlines.
Friday is an off-day at the tournament – the schedule left open in case of previous rain outs – and on Saturday, the top seeded team will play the fourth seed, and the second and third seeds will square off. The winners of those two semifinal tilts will face each other Sunday in the championship game.
The winner of the tournament will then head to Williamsport, Pa. as the Canadian representatives in the Little League World Series.
White Rock teams have twice before played in the prestigious international event – in 2007 and 2008.