The Estevan Tower Wolves, who played good ball all season, took to the Saskota League Playoffs like wolves in wolves clothing, making it all the way to the final.
The Tower Wolves played in the Harbourne Cup, the end of the season tournament where the first game is played at home and the rest of the tournament is held at Kenosee. The Tower Woves opened up against the Wawota Pats on a hot night at Lynne Prime Field.
“Wolves are taking on wawota to start the playoffs tonight at 730 at Lynn Prime Park. Kolby Fleury gets the start on the mound,” tweeted the Tower Wolves' Twitter account before the game Friday.
The teams had played each other twice in the regular season, with the Tower Wolves winning both games by a combined score of 21-4. But this game was a lot closer and the Pats came close to putting the Wolves in a bad place to open the tournament.
“Wolves walk off wawota on a walk off single by @blainekovach and play at noon vs kenosee Tomorrow,” the team tweeted after the game.
With the first game in the books, the Tower Wolves prepared to play twice on Saturday and then again, hopefully, on Sunday.
“Local radio hero @dannyyouwin takes to the bump today as wolves play the Cubs at noon” tweeted the team, referring to the host Kenosee Cubs and the Wolves' Danny Ewen, also the radio voice for the Bruins and a program director on the local family of radio stations. The game was successful for the Tower Wolves, as just hours after that the team tweeted: “Wolves win another one 4-1 over the Cubs. Advance to the playoff round and seeding will be determined by the game vs Oxbow at 4 pm”
So although the Wolves did make the playoffs, the immediate future meant another game before Sunday's playoff round. That game against Oxbow ended 10-1 for the Chiefs.
“Wolves can't avoid the harbourne curse and fall to 2-1. Will play Carlyle tomorrow at 2,” the team tweeted.
The Carlyle Cardinals went into the game having beaten Redvers Friday and Carnduff and Arcola Saturday. Carlyle during the regular season had also beaten the Wolves 5-4 and tied them 3-3 in their only game. The anticipation mounted.
“The wolves play at 2 in the semi final against the cardinals. @just_keating11 to take the mound,” the Wolves' Twitter account stated about Kris Keating's appearance on the mound.
For the first time since June 16, 2016, the Tower Wolves came out on top.
The @TowerWolves defeat Carlyle 9-6. It's Estevan vs @DaOxbowChiefs for the 2017 Harbourne Memorial Championship. #Saskota” tweeted Ewen at the end of the Wolves' semifinal game.
In two games against each other in the regular season, the Tower Wolves outscored the Chiefs 20-10 in two victories against them.
For the 4th time in club history the Estevan Tower Wolves are the Saskota Champions!!” the Tower Wolves Twitter account proclaimed Sunday night. The Tower Wolves defeated the Oxbow Chiefs 6-5 in the Harbourne Cup final.
Now, the focus for most of the teams in the tournament will switch to provincials. The Senior Tier II Saskatchewan Baseball Association provincials will take place in Yorkton Aug. 11-13. Taking part in that tournament from the Saskota League will be Carlyle, the Tower Wolves and Oxbow. Carnduff will travel to Unity that weekend for the Tier III provincials, and Kenosee and Arcola will go to Standard Hill for the Tier IV provincials.
The Windthorst Pirates (3-12-3) are hosting Tier V provincials this year, with Redvers also taking part.
