Despite finishing without win at the B.C. Little League championships, the Trail Allstars won over plenty of fans at the tournament in Vancouver.
The team was presented with the Sportsmanship Award in the seven-team tournament.
“It’s probably the nicest I’ve ever got at a tournament,” said Trail manager D.J. Ashman.
The inscription on the award recognizes the “coaches, players and parents” on the team and Ashman said it was fitting to acknowledge everyone for their efforts.
He said opposing coaches and parents came up and congratulated him on the performance of his relatively young team.
“We didn’t get a win but we had a blast. The week was great.”
The provincials wrapped up on Sunday with White Rock defeating Hastings 4-2 in the final.
It was sweet revenge for White Rock. Hastings, the defending national champion, defeated White Rock 20-0 in the 2012 final hosted by Trail.
White Rock moves on to the Canadian championship in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia beginning Friday.
White Rock won provincial titles in 2007 and 2008 and both times the team won the national title and advanced to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.
The national championships begin Friday, but White Rock doesn’t open the tournament until Saturday, when they open the Canadians against Saskatchewan.