KAMLOOPS, B.C. - The 2012 Dinos Baseball club wrapped up its conference season with its best-ever showing and finish at the National Championships over the weekend.

After the best start in Dinos Baseball history and off to a 5-4 record the Dinos went through their worst stretch ever, dropping their final 17 games to end the season with a record of 5-21. Throughout the stretch of 17 loses, which included numerous 1-run losses or games that the Dinos handed to their opponents with numerous errors or miscues, the Dinos always felt if they could put together a solid game from start to finish they could still be one to contend - and that they did.  

Entering the Conference Championship Tournament the Dinos were the fifth seed due to their season record.  In game 1 the Dinos faced the top seed PBA out of Lethbridge and lost 6-1. Game 2 saw the Dinos face the second seed TRU out of Kamloops, a team that had beat the Dinos all 6 meetings during the year.  The Dinos held on to win the game 7-6 and even their tournament record at 1-1.

On Day 3 the Dinos entered only having to win 1 more game to insure a berth in a semi-final and that they did and more.  The Dinos opened Day 3 with a game against the No. 3 seed VIBI out of Nanaimo who also at the time was 3-0 in the tournament.  The Dinos went on to win the game 16-1 and insure themselves a berth in the semi-final.

In their second game of the day for the Dinos, their opponent was Okanagan College out of Kelowna. The Dinos went on to win the game 5-0 and finish the tournament with a 3-1 record.  Due to a three-way tie for first, the Dinos were awarded the second seed going into the semifinals and thus matched up against the 3rd seed VIBI.

The semi-final berth and 3-1 tournament record are both the best outcomes any Dinos Baseball team has had at a National Championship.  In the semi-final the Dinos jumped out to 4-0 lead only to see VIBI fight its way back and keep the game close at 4-2.  Entering the ninth inning the Dinos had three outs to get but unfortunately the dream weekend came to an end.

After getting a leadoff out the Dinos surrendered a home run followed by a couple miscues which eventually led to a 5 run inning and the Dinos season coming to an end with a 7-4 loss.

“I'm very proud of this group of young men," said head coach A.J. Fystro. "After a very disappointing year that we entered with high expectations our young men kept practicing hard and believing that if they could put a solid game together we could still win it all. I don't think anyone gave us a shot to win any games at the Championships and our guys proved many wrong. We were right there in the end and 2 outs away from being in the final.”

Tournament Highlights: Dinos hitters batted .316 on the weekend, the highest total for any team at this year's Championships...fourth year and graduating Pitcher Joel Holland carried a no hitter into the 6th inning of a seven-inning game against VIBI...third year starter Riley Schaaf threw 133 pitches, 91 for strikes and struck out 13 and walked none in a no decision in the semi-final game...second year catcher Chris van Keulen caught all 26 games during the season as well as all 5 tournament games, an outstanding accomplishment for a player at the catchers position...fourth year and graduating Shortstop Ryan Gregg missed only 1 game during the entire season.

-UC-