It’ll come as no surprise given the run they’ve been on the last couple of weeks, but the Moose Jaw Miller Express and Saskatoon Berries have become the first team in the Western Canadian Baseball League’s East Division to clinch a playoff spot.
The Express took a 4-2 victory over the Medicine Hat Mavericks on Friday night and see their record improve to 32-11 with their 14th-straight victory. As a result, they have a 14.5 game lead over the fourth-place Weyburn Beavers with 13 games to play, locking down the post-season berth.
The Saskatoon Berries did their part with their their 9-1 win in Fort McMurray, improving to 32-12 to sit a half game out of first with 12 games remaining on their schedule.
Other results Friday saw the Sylvan Lake Gulls take an 11-6 win over the Regina Red Sox and the Lethbridge Bulls down the Swift Current 57’s 9-7/
Regina sits at 18-24 and are a game ahead of Weyburn in third place, while the Beavers now sit a half game up on Medicine Hat for the fourth and final spot. Swift Current sees their record fall to 14-30.
Moose Jaw 4, Medicine Hat 2
The Express got things going early with a run in the first and three in the second for a quick 4-0 lead, and while the Mavericks would get a pair back in the sixth, they’d get no closer.
Moose Jaw got the job done with small ball, with all seven of their hits singles, led by Will Edwards with a 2-for-3 outing that included a run and RBI. Gary Swan, Brayden Bunnell and Ben Waliczek also crossed the plate for the Express.
Moose Jaw’s pitching staff made sure that was more than enough offence, as Jacob Glazener turned in a quality start, giving up a single earned run while scattering five hits over six innings, striking out six. Gio Lugo tossed shut out seventh, Jacob Quiltes gave up a single hit while striking out three over the final two innings.
Frankie Giacalone and Johnny Vulcano scored runs for the Mavericks, Carter Roth hit a double for the lone extra base hit in the game.
Diego Centella was the losing pitcher after giving up four runs, three earned on six hits over six innings.
Saskatoon 9, Fort McMurray 1
The Berries built a 4-0 lead through the first four innings and then tacked on four runs in the sixth to give their pitching staff all the insurance they’d need.
Merek Yeager would go on to pick up the win on the mound, giving up only two hits and striking out seven over five innings. Clay Mixon and Carter Kopp combined to pitch three scoreless, Reid Beck gave up the lone run in the ninth.
Josh Henson finished a triple away from hitting for the cycle for Saskatoon, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, double and four runs batted in. Nate Houston was 3-for-5 with a run and RBI, Gael Salinas crossed the plate twice. Aiden Kilshaw was 2-for-5 with a triple.
Braeden Dyck scored the lone run for Fort McMurray.
Dayan Gonzalez was the losing pitcher after giving up five runs on seven hits over 3 ⅔ innings.
Sylvan Lake 11, Regina 6
The contest was back-and-forth early, with Regina taking a 2-0 lead out of the second inning, Sylvan Lake going ahead 3-2 in the fourth, the Red Sox taking a 5-3 edge in their half of the sixth before the Gulls pulled away for good with five in the bottom of the sixth.
Brady Bye went 3-for-4 with a home run and RBI for Regina, Chance Delaschuk also hit a round tripper, scored two runs and knocked in two. Lance Anderson was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.
Kris Hahn started for Regina and took a no decision after giving up four runs, two earned, on seven hits over five innings. Vittorio Iacobucci allowed four runs in the sixth to take the loss.
Elias Duncan crossed the plate three times without getting a hit thanks to three walks for the Gulls, Coleman Parry was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs, Jaden Flores also crossed the plate twice. Elijha Hammill was 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI.
Reece Hemmerling was the winning pitcher after giving up six runs on nine hits over 6 ⅓, striking out five.
Lethbridge 9, Swift Current 7
Trailing 6-4 heading into the seventh, the 57’s would score one in that inning and then add a pair in the eighth to take the lead, but Lethbridge scored three in their half of the eighth to snag the victory.
Easton Kitura had the big hit for the Bulls in the eighth, belting a two-run home run to bring home the tying and winning runs. Cardel Dyck went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and four RBI, Kitura finished 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. Jack Wheatley knocked in two runs, Jalen Ryan crossed the plate twice.
Shaye McTavish allowed five runs on nine hits over seven innings and struck out eight in taking the no decision for Lethbridge, Blake Watters grabbed the win despite giving up two runs in the eighth.
Jake Hiromoto was 3-for-5 with a solo home run for Swift Current, Hudson Unger also hit a round tripper and was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Jake Steffes went 3-for-4 with three RBI, Cohen Jorgensen crossed the plate twice.
Brody Nanini started for the 57’s and allowed five runs on nine hits over five innings, striking out six, Chase Cummins was the losing pitcher after giving up three runs on four hits in the eighth.
Up Next
It’s a busy night for Saskatchewan teams on Saturday, with Moose Jaw in Swift Current for a doubleheader (4:57 p.m. and 6:57 p.m.), Weyburn is at Medicine Hat (6:45 p.m.), Regina at Fort McMurray (7:05 p.m.) and Saskatoon at Sylvan Lake (7:05 p.m.)
