Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart (ISN)

September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC (ISN) - The Victoria Mariners capped off a successful weekend Sunday afternoon, as they drubbed the White Rock Tritons 8-0 to capture the championship game of the second annual Zack Downey Memorial Baseball Tournament at Layritz Park.

1D4_9861September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected] The Mariners rolled through the tournament with a 4-1 record, winning games against Parksville (9-1), the Victoria Eagles (9-6), White Rock (9-3) and Nanaimo (8-3) before dropping a meaningless game to the Coquitlam Reds (10-2) in the last round robin game Sunday.

1DX_0633September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]
The M's Tyler Schindel chugs around second en route to a first inning triple in the final against White Rock on Sunday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

That put the M's up against the Tritons, who captured second place in the round robin by virtue of their wins over Coquitlam (3-2), Parksville (7-2), and the Victoria Eagles (5-2).

1DX_0647September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]
Jason Willow strokes an RBI base hit in the first inning against White Rock Sunday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

In the final, which started on time at 3:00 pm Sunday despite some earlier weather delays, it was really no contest, as the M's, drawing inspiration as they have done for the past few years from their former teammate Downey, jumped all over White Rock starter Matt Leeder for three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a triple from Tyler Schindel, and solid RBI hits from Jason Willow, Caleb Piechnik and Chris Niketas.

1DX_0695September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]
The Mariners Duncan Brens-Knight got the start Sunday and pitched 4 innings of scoreless baseball against White Rock (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

They would add four more runs in the second thanks to RBIs hits from Tyler Schindler and Jason Willow, a bases loaded walk to Niketas and an RBI single from Harrison Hurford.  One more run in the third made it 8-0 and put things out of reach for the Tritons.

1DX_0748September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]
The Tritons did have some bright spots defensively Sunday as here, second baseman Jansen Crossley turns a double play on a sliding Tyler Schindel (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

On the mound, starter Duncan Brens-Knight was solid, going nearly five full innings before being relieved by Mike Varley who came in to close out the mercy-rule shortened win.

1DX_0669September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]
The Mariner's Nick Seginowich had a pair of solid hits in the final Sunday against White Rock (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

The Downey Memorial Tournament has been established by the Mariners to honor the memory of former player Zack Downey who passed away from cancer in May of 2014.  Prior to the game, his mother Tania, father Wayne and sister Brooklyn were presented with a plaque that the Mariners will be installing at their home field - Henderson Park - that will serve as a permanent memorial to the inspirational young man that was taken way too early from this world.

1D4_9852September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]
The Mariner's Mike Varley (right) presented Brooklyn Downey with a plaque that will be installed at Henderson Park to honour former Mariner Zack Downey who passed away from cancer in May of 2014 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

The plaque nicely sums up what sports, competition, self-motivation and more importantly, what Zack was all about. It reads:

1D4_9854September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]
The Downey family, Brooklyn (left), Wayne (centre) and Tania (right) with the plaque that will be installed at Henderson Park to honour their son and brother Zach (Photo: Christian J. Stewart / ISN)

"Sports are my life…I live, eat, breathe and dream of the action. The wild adventure of each new game is like walking on the edge of the horizon, knowing whatever is at the end, I will have given to the game everything I have.   In loving memory of Zachary Downey #6 May 1, 1996 - May 25, 2014."

1D4_9847September 20, 2015, Victoria, BC - The Victoria Mariners host the White Rock Tritons in the final of the 2015 Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria. All Photos Copyright Christian J. Stewart and Christian J. Stewart Photography 2015. NO UNPAID USE without the express written consent of the photographer. Telephone: 250-472-1699; E-Mail [email protected]