Despite one rough inning, the Gord Closson Forest Products Fastball Club managed to remain undefeated in the Nanaimo Senior Men's Fastball League with an 8-3 win over Palladian at the Glenora ball park on June 24.
Pitcher Rick Smith gave up just three unearned runs, but they all crossed the plate in the third inning as Palladian took a 3-2 lead. Smith managed to hold the Nanaimo club scoreless after that, and finished the night with 18 strikeouts and just five hits against.
The Duncan squad finished with eight runs on 11 hits. Brad Robinson went 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI on a solo home run in the fifth that rebooted the Closson bats. Marty Steen was 4-for-4 with four runs and hit a two-run homer in the sixth as he came a triple shy of the cycle.
Smith, Trevor Gicas, Bob Court and Dennis Young also had hits. Young added two RBIs, and Court and Smith had one each.
The club is heading to the BC Cup, the senior men's provincial championship, in Cedar on July 19 and 20, and will be hosting two tournaments in August: the All Chicks Tournament on Aug. 16 and 17, and the Gord Closson Fall Classic on Aug. 23 and 24.
Proceeds from the Fall Classic will go to Dan Whiteford, who is suffering from various health issues.