The Burnaby Minor Braves played their best baseball against arguably the best team in the province last week.
In their only game of week 6, Burnaby exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the first-place Tri-City Indians at Bird Field last Tuesday.
Leadoff batter Niko Millas reached base and Parker Opdahl drew a walk, resulting in Joey Siniscalchi drawing an intential walk to load the bases.
Michael Stovman responded with a single up the middle to drive in the eventual winning run.
Sammy Googs, Nico Patella and Duncan Stevenson kept the five-run drive alive for the Braves.
Besides scoring a key run, Siniscalchi also recorded the save for the Braves, pitching the Indians into a double-play before getting the final out on a ground ball.
"The Braves undeniably played their best ball of the year," said Burnaby coach Jason Smith.
The Indians took the lead in bottom of the second, scoring two runs off Braves Stovman, who started on the mound for Burnaby. But the Braves rallied back with three in the third when Siniscalchi smacked a double driving in two runs and after reaching third was hit home on a sacrifice fly by Stovman.
The Braves scored another run in the fourth on Sam Guglielmucci's triple. He scored on an overthrow at third base. The Indians' bats chipped away with two more to tie the game in the fifth inning.
Later, the Braves had a couple of chances at home plate but were called out twice on close calls, sending the game into extra innngs.
Stovman pitched a steller game keeping the Indians slugger off balance with a mix of fastballs, curves and a devastating changeup.
The Braves now look forward to the Queen Victoria wood bat tournament in Richmond this weekend.
