Three members of the 2017 Parksville Royals were named to the BC Premier Baseball League All-Conference team.
Third baseman Shane Rogers was named First team All-Conference following his tremendous 2017 campaign. He was a prolific hitter, posting an outstanding .360/.511/.560 over the regular season with two home runs, 25 RBI, and 18 stolen bases.
During the playoffs, Rogers was able to shift to a higher gear as he got even better, hitting .440 with two home runs in eight playoff games, helping lead the Royals to the PBL Championship final and a silver medal finish.
Rogers graduated from the Royals and was recruited to play for the NAIA UBC Thunderbirds.
Both Josh Laukkanen and Jayden Marsh were named second team All-Conference pitchers.
Like any successful team, the Royals benefited from an excellent starting pitching staff. Marsh posted a sterling 2.21 ERA over 13 starts and struck out more than a batter per inning. Laukkanen, in grade 11, pitched to a 2.63 ERA and earned wins in both of his playoff starts.
“We’re very proud of our guys and pleased that their accomplishments have been recognized,” said head coach Frank Kaluzniak.
“Baseball is a difficult game with a lot of failure – the best hitters in a league fail 7 times out of 10. It takes great tenacity to succeed in this sport and so it’s especially gratifying when that recognition comes.”
NEWS Staff/Royals submission