The Southeast Bantam AAA Athletics were looking for better results in the Tier I provincials that they were able to get in the regular season, and accomplished that mission with a hard-earned silver medal in Unity last weekend.
With only three second years players and eight rookies in the league, they played down a level after the regular season and found the success that had eluded them against the older AAA players.
Friday, the team opened with an 8-7 victory against the Sask Five Giants, with Cade Bendtsen starting on the mound. He ended up striking out eight in the game before leaving in the sixth with a lead of 8-5. Reliever Kieren Benson picked up the game and ended up throwing out a runner trying to steal third base for the last out of the game. Kayden Lyons was 3-for-4 in the game and Jesse Schill hit a pair of doubles.
Saturday morning, the A's lost a close 5-4 game to the Muenster Red Sox. Bryson Andres pitched well in helping the A's stake themselves out to a 4-0 lead but fielding issues allowed the Red Sox to tie and then take the lead on a balk. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the A's were caught stealing to end the game.
Saturday, the As won a blowout extra inning 12-7 game with the Lloydminster Twins. Under the tournament rules system, everyone hit in the extra inning and the A's piled up the runs while shutting down the Twins to earn a spot in the semifinal.
The As jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the first two innings against the Prince Albert Royals, who waited until later in the game to make it closer. Ryland Meier hit a triple in the game that ended 12-8 for the A's, and meant a spot in the final and a rematch with Lloydminster.
A back and forth game started will by pitcher Schill was 5-2 Twins before the As came back to load the bases for Schill. He and Ben Thompson hit a pair of two-RBI singles. At the end of the sixth, the As were up 8-7 but the Twins knocked out a two run home run to take the lead in the seventh. The As tried to come back but left the tying run on first base to end the game 9-8 for Lloydminster.
Lloydminster will represent the province at the Western Canadian Championships in Kamloops next month.
