The Alexander's Junior Cardinals clinched the South East Senior Baseball League titles by sweeping finalists, the Willowbrook Royals, in three games in the best of five games final playoff series.
Head coach of the Junior Cardinals, Brian Trollope attributes the successful season to the pitching staff. "Our pitching staff this year is second to nobody," Trollope claims.
As well, Trollope says the team was hitting the ball well, the fielding was very good. "We were pretty confident going in," he says.
The Junior Cards claimed the first game win 6-1 Tuesday night. "That was the Mini Show," Trollope declares. Andrew Minchuk pitched the full seven inning game for the first time this season, striking out 19 of 21 batters, Trollope reports.
The second game in Willowbrook Thursday was a good game Trollope suggests. The game was a little controversial at times, he adds. "When we play these guys, it gets a little heated because we've been in it the last two years together and both teams come to play," he explains. Ross Stillborn worked the entire game. Yorkton claimed a 6-2 win.
Both Logan Calanchie, who pitched the third and final game, and Stillborn are going to the nationals with the provincial champions, the Saskatoon Stallions Trollope reports. Minchuk had to return to college or he'd be going to nationals too, Trollope adds.
The Junior Cardinals defense was solid. "Any pitcher would love to have that defense behind him," Trollope claims.
Yorkton claimed the SESBL championship with a 10-3 win in the third and deciding game.
Both teams played with short benches. The Junior Cardinals had fewer players because of a family illness, one player had to return to university, another had a long standing commitment and one 'no-show'. As a result the Junior Cardinals fielded at team of exactly nine players, Trollope reports.
