Anytime a fourth place and fifth place team face off in sports it is expected the playoff series will be a tight one.
The first round of the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League was no exception. If history means anything both the North Battleford Beavers and Wilkie Brewers expected to have a tight series and that was exactly what they had. After splitting game one and two of the series, both decided in extra innings, the Beavers and Wilkie squared off Monday in the decisive game three again at Beaver Lions Stadium.
The Beavers scored in the first inning when Ryan Shepherd walked, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on another ground ball to take the early lead. The Beavers added another run later in the game and were in control. Jared Inkster and the Beavers' defence were all but perfect through six innings holding the 2-0 lead.
In the seventh, Mike Sittler led off the inning with a base hit and Inkster was replaced by Kyle Gregoire as Wilkie marched up the top of their lineup. Wilkie eventually loaded the bases with one out when Rick Cey ripped a shot down the third base line to score two runs.
With the bases loaded again, Rory Gregoire now pitching for the Beavers and the infield drawn in, Mitch Nielsen pinch hit for Wilkie and drove the ball through the left side of the infield and scored two more runs.
Wilkie carried the two-run lead into the bottom of the seventh and with one out and two runners on base Tyler Russell hit a hard line drive to second base. Nick Pernitsky caught the ball and doubled off the runner at first base to end the game with a double play. Aaron Sittler pitched the complete game for Wilkie earning the win.
As the Beavers NSRBL season comes to an end they now will rest and prepare for A provincials in Lloydminster where they could once again lock horns with Wilkie, as the Beavers, Brewers, Meadow Lake, Border City Blue Jays and Carlyle will play for the provincial title.
Wilkie advanced to the second round of playoffs, as did the Lloydminster Meridian Twins and Unity Cardinals.
Unity pulled off the sixth versus third upset, as they won game three of their series Monday night by a 9-5 score over the Lloydminster Junior Redhawks.
The Cardinals had first-year midget Thomas Duhaime playing in game three. He earned five runs batted in including a sixth inning grand slam.
In an extra inning, Unity pushed two runs across with walks and two more with hits, as Cory Wildeman earned the win.
Scott Ackerlund started on the mound for Unity.
Friday, the Twins punched their ticket to the second round of the playoffs, as they won game three over the Kindersley Raiders 12-2.
Tuesday, the fourth game three of the first round was to be played in Meadow Lake between the White Sox and Border City Blue Jays. If Meadow Lake prevailed, they would face Wilkie, if the Blue Jays won they will face their Lloydminster rivals - the Twins in the second round.
