HYDE CREEK—The Port Hardy Cubs weathered every challenge thrown at them by the Port McNeill Rangers to win their North Vancouver Island Baseball League matchup Saturday.
Their next game simply went to the weather.
Moments after Chris Heslop's RBI single in a driving rain drew the Cubs into a 3-3 tie with the Hyde Creek Hillbillys Sunday, the game was called off with three innings completed at Hyde Creek Ballpark.
"The really heavy stuff isn't even here yet," a dripping Cubs catcher Rod Romas said as the teams retired to the relative shelter of their dugouts.
The contest will be completed prior to the next Cubs-Hillbillys game here on June 9.
The Hillbillys jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning Sunday as Cubs starter Chris Lamothe struggled with the damp, cool conditions. After he walked two batters, Lamothe surrendered back-to-back, run-scoring singles to Jason West and Curtis Carmen.
The Cubs (3-0) got a run back against Carmen in the bottom half when Jordan Campbell walked, moved up on an errant pickoff throw and scored on Curtis Martyn's single to left field.
The Cubs took advantage of another leadoff walk to tie the game 2-2 in the second. Lukas Jones drew a free pass, moved up on Heslop's single and scored on a fielder's choice by Quinn Mellow.
With the light rain increasing to a steady shower, the Hillbillies (2-1) regained the lead at 3-2 with an unearned run in the third. Ivan Hall drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a fielder's choice and scored on Carmen's second RBI single of the game.
With the rain increasing in intensity, the Cubs sandwiched a Romas double between a pair of walks to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the third. Carmen coaxed a comebacker to the mound to get the second out on a force at home plate, but the 53-year-old Heslop roped the ball to left field to score Romas with the tying run. Carmen escaped further damage by striking out the next batter, and with the rain showing no sign of abating, umpire Gordon Glover stopped the game.
Cubs 7, Rangers 2
A two-run triple by Arnaud Coté in the first inning and a two-run homer by Lamothe in the seventh bookended the Cubs' victory over Port McNeill Saturday evening.
Former Cub Mike Schofield, playing for the first time this season while visiting from his new home in the Okanagan, went 2-for-4. Martyn picked up the win on the mound.
Rob Kenny was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI for the Rangers (0-4). Jordan Altmiks added two hits, two stolen bases and an RBI in the loss.