With two of their key players on the shelf at the most critical time of the season, the rest of the Okanagan Athletics will need to summon up some postseason magic this weekend in Kelowna.
The undermanned A香蕉视频直播檚 are playing host to the five-team championship tournament beginning Friday at Elks Stadium.
Already carrying one of the league香蕉视频直播檚 sparsest rosters, the A香蕉视频直播檚 will be without arguably their best all-round player, Cole Van Every, along with starting third baseman Mason Glowacki.
The 18-year-old Van Every, who led the PBL in strikeouts (86) this season while batting .337 and providing defensive stability in the infield, broke his ankle last weekend in Game 3 of the A香蕉视频直播檚 playoff series in Victoria. Glowacki will miss the provincial tournament with a concussion.
Still, with just 13 players on the roster, head coach Evan Bailey said his club can香蕉视频直播檛 afford to dwell on its less-than-enviable position.
香蕉视频直播淲e have to move past it, we really don香蕉视频直播檛 have a choice,香蕉视频直播� said Bailey, the Athletics香蕉视频直播� head coach and program director. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 pretty untimely for us, a tough situation for the guys but they have to go out and play. I think we香蕉视频直播檙e resilient, I香蕉视频直播檓 not worried about the guys morale. But we香蕉视频直播檙e facing teams with 22-man rosters, so it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a challenge. But as we know in baseball, anything can happen.香蕉视频直播�
Okanagan will be joined by the four winners of last weekend香蕉视频直播檚 first-round PBL playoff series香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈who also happen to be the top four teams from the regular season香蕉视频直播攊n the Langley Blaze, Abbotsford Cardinals, North Shore Twins and Victoria Mariners.
The A香蕉视频直播檚 open up the provincial tourney Friday at noon at Elks Stadium against the Mariners.
At 3 p.m. Abbotsford takes on North Shore, followed by the Langley Blaze who will meet the winner of the A香蕉视频直播檚-Victoria matchup.
Adding to the challenge this weekend is the double-knockout format, putting pressure on both the A香蕉视频直播檚 and Mariners香蕉视频直播攖he fifth- and fourth-place teams香蕉视频直播攖o get out of the gate fast. Only one team will.
香蕉视频直播淭he double-knockout makes it tough, it香蕉视频直播檚 never been used before,香蕉视频直播� Bailey said. 香蕉视频直播淏asically, if we lose our first game, we have to then win five in a row. That香蕉视频直播檚 not what you want to be facing.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 always been a round-robin format in the past, giving you a little bit more room for error,香蕉视频直播� he added.香蕉视频直播淏ut, it is what it is. We have deal with it the best we can.香蕉视频直播�
Okanagan had a chance to bump Victoria from the postseason picture in the quarterfinal round last weekend, but the hometown Mariners earned their way into the PBL finals with a 2-1 series win over Bailey香蕉视频直播檚 club.
The PBL championship will be decided Sunday, with the finals at 2 and 5 p.m., if necessary.
The A香蕉视频直播檚 won their only previous PBL title in 2012.
To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.
<>
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
