The Westlock Red Lions advanced to the North Central Alberta Baseball League final with a 2-0 series win against the Legal Primeaus on Aug. 9.
“It was a full team effort from our bench all the way up to our starters because everyone got in and played a good role,” said Red Lions general manager Jordan Brand.
“When they were in, they showed up and played, and that's what a team is all about.”
The Red Lions dominated the Primeaus 6-1 in Game 1 at Keller Field. League MVP and Red Lions pitcher Ayden Cote threw an excellent game, with 12 strikeouts in seven innings and no hits in the first six innings. Derek Lofstrand, Allen Borle, Jordan Brand and Teron Callihoo all chipped in offensively.
Game 2 was a tougher challenge for the Red Lions as the Primeaus came out swinging and built a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Primeaus kept the Red Lions off the scoresheet until the seventh inning. Borle got the comeback started with Isaac Edwards and Nathan Brown scoring for the Red Lions to pull ahead. Chris Brand, Sean Beaudoin, Callihoo and Hayden Chies all scored hits, with Kyle Lawrence and Cooper Buchko shutting the Primeaus offence down after the first inning.
The Red Lions took several NCABL awards as the league pennant winners, with Cote winning both junior player of the year and MVP, and Brand winning manager of the year.
The Red Lions will face the Parkland Twins in the finals over the Aug. 22-24 weekend with Game 1 in Westlock at Keller Field on Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. and Game 2 the following day in Spruce Grove at 2 p.m. If necessary, Game 3 will be played in Westlock on Aug. 24 at 2 p.m.
“Biggest thing for us is to just keep doing what we've been doing all year, which is hitting the ball and playing some good defence, picking up each other and winning as a team for the most part,” said Brand. “I think that's what we've been doing all year and have stayed focused from the first at bat all the way to the last out.”
Prior to their final matchup against the Twins, the Red Lions will face teams from across western Canada in the Western Canadian Baseball Championships at Keller Field from Aug. 15 to 17. The Red Lions will face the Kelowna Jays this Friday and the West Winnipeg A’s on Saturday with a possible semifinal and final matchup on Sunday, depending on the results.
