Carlyle Cardinals’ player-coach David Lemieux says it gets harder to win the Saskota Baseball League each year.
Yet the Cardinals continue to lead the league, and win many games in dominant fashion.
The Cardinals defeated the Oxbow Chiefs 10-2 on July 24 in Kenosee Lake to win the Saskota’s Harbourne Memorial Cup title for the third straight year.
The Cardinals were the top team throughout the weekend. They opened the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record in the round robin, as they defeated the Redvers A’s 14-4, the Kenosee Cubs 12-2 and the Carnduff Astros 6-0.
In the semifinal, they shut out the Arcola Threshers 10-0, and then they soundly beat Oxbow in the final.
While the games were lopsided, Lemieux said the scores weren’t indicative of the play. In the final, the Chiefs held a 2-0 lead at one point. They were also down early against the A’s before their bats came alive, and they held just a one-run lead against the Astros for most of the game.
The Cardinals were the top team in the league in the regular season with a 15-3 record, which was 1 1/2 games better than the second place Estevan Tower Wolves (13-4-1). But Lemieux knew it was going to be tough to pull off a three-peat.
“The league seems to be ever-improving,” said Lemieux. “Obviously, it’s hard to win three years in a row, when teams are gunning for you more and more. We had finished the regular season quite strongly, so, going into the weekend, we knew we had a shot, as long as our pitching held out.
“Everyone pitched really well this past weekend, so when that happens, you give yourself a good chance to win.”
Lemieux cited the commitment from the players as the biggest reason for the team’s success over the last few years. As the Cardinals’ players get older, and some of them start families, it gets more difficult for them to play.
“But they still continue to come out and stay committed, and they work hard on nights when we’re not playing,” said Lemieux.
It was the same story this year, as the Cardinals spent a lot of time practising in the batting cages and working on their defence.
Experience also plays a key role, he said, because they’re stronger when they get into big games, such as the Harbourne tournament.
The Cardinals will now shift their attention to the Baseball Sask. senior A provincials in Kindersley on Aug. 11 and 12. Winning the Saskota league gives them momentum heading into provincials, he said, and they have the confidence that they can continue to thrive against top teams.
Lemieux expects the Cardinals will play exhibition games and participate in practices before provincials to make sure they are sharp for the tournament.
