The Estevan mosquito A KPC Sluggers began their final week before provincials with a confidence boosting B side win at a July 10-12 Melville baseball tournament.
The Sluggers won the final game 15-0 over the Saskatoon A’s at Jaycee Diamond to take the B side title after making it to the championship with a 3-1 semi-final defeat of the Regina White Sox. Prior to elimination play, the team competed in three round-robin games spread over the first two days of the tournament, where they went 2-1 by losing 8-7 to the Regina Buffalos before besting a Medicine Hat club 8-1 the next day and finally completing the action with a close 6-4 win over the Saskatoon Blue Jay Dirt Bags.
Ryan Siever, coach of the Sluggers, said the semi-final win against the Regina White Sox, which beat them in the mosquito AAA Regina League tournament on July 4, was a well pitched game with good defensive plays by both sides. He said they were finally able to get some hits in the later innings, giving them some runs and the chance to advance to the final with the A’s.
“Next weekend is provincials, (so) it was good just to get momentum going,” said Siever. “Defensively, and even pitching-wise, everyone did really well. I think the boys’ confidence is really high. We’re really proud of how they played and we’re just hoping to build off that with practice this week.”
Siever said the coaching staff will address some base running issues during practice before the provincial tournament starts in Saskatoon this Friday, but he will keep things loose and make sure the kids are having fun. He said the Sluggers will start provincial action with a Friday afternoon tilt against the Saskatoon Cardinals at Kilburn Park.
“We expect lots of family will be there,” he said. “It should be good. Playing in Saskatoon, it’ll be a little bit of a home field advantage for them, but we just got to go out there and play well.”
