Beavers finish season on 'right path', plan for 2011

The Weyburn Beavers season had went very well this year, according to executive president Garnet Hansen. The Beavers ended their 2010 season after being knocked out of the Western Major Baseball League playoffs by the Regina Red Sox.We definitely saw that the Beavers were on the right path, by making the playoffs for the first time since 2003, explained Hansen. We also saw an increase to the crowds at the home games at Tom Laing Park.The Beavers have been members of the WMBL eight years. Prior to the WMBL, the Beavers played in the Southern League, and had earned the Senior A Baseball Championships of that national league in 1996.After finding success this season, the executive and coaching support for the Beavers have started to plan for 2011. I have already heard from our core of local players that they will be interested in returning next year, said Hansen. That will be good for the team, because when they return they will be third-year veterans with the Beavers.Hansen reported at least eight non-import players from the immediate area have expressed interest in returning next year.Another important factor for the Beavers has been the continuity from their coaching staff. It does sound like Terry Smith will come back as head coach for us next year, said Hansen.The Beavers will be evaluating everything from 2010, according to Hansen. He added that with the strength of players who would be returning next year, along with valuable leadership experience gained on the bench, that 2011 would be the Beavers key season.Batting leaders for the Beavers included Erik Scott, with a .350 average; Kilby Perdomo with five homers; and Derek Wallace with 32 runs-batted-in. Pitching leaders included Alex Gale with five wins and 41 strikeouts; and Eric Evans who had a 0.00 earned run average (based on the amount of earned runs given up by a pitcher).