MACKLIN--After the Wilkie Brewers ousted the North Battleford Beavers to earn their spot in the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League final, all eyes were on the battle of the Lakers.
Macklin Lakers faced off against Standard Hill Lakers and Standard Hill stunned Macklin by sweeping them in two games, sending them to face the Brewers in the NSRBL final. With game score of 6-2 loss at home for Macklin, they had high hopes of winning on the road to stay alive in the series. However, being outscored by 11 runs, ends the Macklin Lakers NSRBL season.
Manager Derrick Lantz says,” Our offensive & defensive game was terrible in the two games vs St. Hill. It is unfortunate because we had such a good season up until the league semi final.”
Lantz said the Macklin Lakers are going to prepare for provincials by getting mentally focused on what they need to do.
“For provincials, we are the three-time defending champions, so of course we are the favourite to win it but we need to step up our game and get the NSRBL semi final exit out of our minds, “adds Lantz
After the hiccups of hosting a North Saskatchewan River Baseball League season during the last two years of a pandemic, a return to normal has provided an exciting season for all communities that host a team in this league.
At the close of regular season, North Battleford Beavers, Macklin Lakers, and Wilkie Brewers were within a breath of each other in the standings and as a result, they were also three of the teams left in the final four playoff series to determine two teams to play off for the NSRBL title.
The NSRBL final series is set to begin Aug. 8 to give teams a break for the Aug. 5-7 provincial competition.
The senior AA, Tier 2 provincials hosted in Kindersley is a five-team event and includes four teams that were part of the NSRBL season with Kindersley Stallions, Standard Hill Lakers, Wilkie Brewers, North Battleford Beavers, and Cabri River Rats.
The senior AA, Tier 3 provincials hosted in Macklin is an eight-team event including Macklin Lakers, Pearl Creek Padres, Morse Royals, Meadow Lake White Sox, Gull Lake Greyhounds, Birch Hills Brewers, Saskatoon Rockies and North East Red Sox.
