Aces goal to score a Western Canadian championship

ASSINIBOIA  — The enthusiasm and energy when interviewing Head Coach, Brian Ruthven, of the 13UAA Assiniboia Aces baseball team is evidence of the mandate, “Speed of the leader is speed of the group.”

Ruthven says the team has had a great year winning their league in Regina as well as a provincial title, which advanced them to Western Canadians being held in St. Albert, Alta., Aug 15-17. They will compete against teams from B.C., Manitoba, Alberta, the host team, and they will represent Saskatchewan.

“We had 10players but one got hurt and we won provincials with 9. We are competing at Westerns with those 9 players,” adds Ruthven.

Ruthven is joined on the bench by Corwin Jepson from Coronach and Shylor Layman from Woodrow.

“Winning provincials and advancing to westerns, this was the expectation, but we knew it would be a challenge. We won provincials the last two years and kept going at a high level so there was no doubt we’d be in playoffs, but we weren’t sure beyond that, “says the Aces Coach.

Obviously, the expectation was correct as the team advanced.

“We have had all hands on deck doing some fundraising and we want to make this a great experience for the kids.”

Ruthven also affirms this is not the first team from Assiniboia and southern area to advance to westerns, as three out of the last four years these teams have advanced beyond provincial competition.

“Teams are made up from Assiniboia and south like Kincaid, Coronach, Lafleche and all those little areas and we are pumping out some great baseball players, making for some great baseball teams.”

This provincial winning team, representing Saskatchewan at Western Canadians includes players: Lawson Layman, Emery Ruthven, Damien Giradin, Weston Corcoran, Ryder Tallon, Avery Drake, Hallie Watteyne, Maguire Pituley and Trey Jepson.

Asked what the goal is for Westerns, Ruthven responds, “We are good enough to compete, just like all the teams that have earned a spot there. We need a few bounces and a few hits but we will be in every game. It is my first time for this so I am excited for this team.”

You can fall the team results and updates from this event on their Facebook page.