The Estevan Sherritt Coal Haulers lost their first and only game of the regular season on Saturday, but still finished the slate in first place in the Baseball Regina bantam AAA division.
Following Saturday's doubleheader against the Swift Current Indians, in which they lost the opener 9-8 and tied the second game 3-3, the Haulers finished with a record of 14-1-1.
They were scheduled to begin the playoffs last night, hosting the eighth-place Moose Jaw Mallards in a quarter-final matchup.
Haulers head coach Kent Phillips said the Indians were the toughest team Estevan played all season.
"In my opinion, it could be a finals preview for provincials if all goes according to what I think."
In the first game Saturday at Cactus Park, a bad third inning made all the difference in sending the Haulers to defeat for the first time in 2012. The Indians scored seven runs in that frame.
"There were probably about four errors in one inning. That basically was where we beat ourselves, instead of them beating us," said Phillips.
Brandon Hutt got the start for the Haulers in the second game, but was kept on a tight pitch count.
Phillips said he wanted to keep all his pitchers fresh for the playoff game against Moose Jaw, even if it meant losing the team's undefeated record.
Meanwhile, the Haulers hosted Carlyle on Wednesday and won 20-12.
"We batted very, very well. I used a couple of pitchers just to give them some innings because they hadn't pitched in awhile. I wasn't in any hurry to pull anybody out," said Phillips.
Estevan was also scheduled to play a doubleheader against the Pacers in Regina on Sunday, but it was cancelled because the three Regina teams were involved in a playoff to determine who would advance to provincials.
As for the quarter-final, Phillips said he wasn't sure what to expect from Moose Jaw.
The Haulers won both meetings between the teams on May 13, 7-2 and 12-1.
"The last time we played them was right at the very first weekend of the season. They were just getting their feet wet, so were we. I'm hoping for more of the same outcome, but we haven't seen each other in so long. I don't know what to expect.
"They have one really good pitcher. But we also have, in my opinion, the best hitting team from top to bottom," said Phillips.
