The best in senior ball will compete at provincials this weekend, with different tournaments around Saskatchewan. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Batters Up!

Senior baseball provincials swing into action Friday

Aug 4, 2022 | 4:16 PM

It’s a beautiful weekend for a ball game as senior baseball provincials are set to kick off across Saskatchewan.

Running Aug. 5–7, the weekend will see the North Battleford Beavers, Wilkie Brewers, Standard Hill Lakers, and host Kindersley Stallions among the teams competing at AA Tier 2 provincials in Kindersley.

Meanwhile, the Meadow Lake Sox and host Macklin Lakers will be among those at AA Tier 3 provincials in Macklin.

The Beavers will be looking for a bit of redemption after falling 2-0 to Wilkie in the semi-finals of the North Sask River Baseball League playoffs.

Veteran infielder with the Beavers, Bryce Gatzke, said the team is looking forward to the opportunity to compete on the provincial stage, citing a confident approach as key heading into the weekend.

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“We’ve got a great team and we’ve got high expectations,” Gatzke said. “I think there was a little bit too much pressure being put on ourselves about performing [during the postseason], but just as long as we do what we can and trust the guys in front of us and behind us in the lineup and just keep the line moving, we’ll be good to go.”

Tier 2 provincials will feature a four-game round-robin format with the top two seeds advancing straight to the tournament final.

The Beavers’ first game will be Friday afternoon against Kindersley with their second against the same Brewers team they played in the postseason just weeks ago.

The Brewers, who will begin NSRBL finals play in their series against Standard Hill next week, will be looking to repeat as provincial champions after winning the Tier 2 title last year.

Player/coach with the Brewers, Mike Sittler, said it will be a special feat if they are able to pull off back-to-back provincial championships.

“It would mean a lot, and especially to us older guys, as I don’t know how many more years of this we’ve got,” Sittler said. “Anytime you can win a provincial championship in any sport, it’s always a good feeling and it’s always something to be proud of.”

The Brewers’ first game will be a preview of the NSRBL finals, as the team will play Standard Hill Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Another team looking to defend their throne as provincial champs are the Meadow Lake Sox.

After winning Tier 4 provincials last year in Hanley, the Sox will compete this year at the Tier 3 tournament in Macklin.

Veteran pitcher and infielder with the Sox, Craig Weran, said the team is looking forward to the challenge ahead, with just one other club from the NSRBL and a number from other senior ball leagues competing at the tournament..

“There’s some teams there we don’t recognize at all that we’ve never seen before, but that’s always the joy with provincials. You get to see some teams you don’t normally cross paths with,” Weran said.

“We’re feeling good and it’s always the best weekend of the year, so we’re excited to get down to Macklin tomorrow and get started tomorrow night.”

With some of the team regulars unable to make the trip, the Sox will have a bit of a different look, with a couple of younger players from the community and a couple more from Mervin and St. Walburg joining the team in their weekend pursuit.

Tier 3 provincials will feature two pools of four with three games guaranteed, and the potential for more should the team make the playoff rounds Sunday. The Sox will play their opening game Saturday night against Burch Hills at 6 p.m.

More on the provincial tournaments taking place this weekend is available here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1