The Westlock Red Lions secured the NCABL title over the weekend with a 2-0 series victory against the Parkland Twins.
This is the second year in a row the Red Lions have won the title and their record 20th NCABL title in total since the league began in 1968.
The Red Lions crushed the Twins 7-0 in game one with a flawless defensive performance. The game was deadlocked 0-0 after two innings but the seal was broken with two runs in the third. The Red Lions added a further three runs in the fourth and two runs in the sixth through a home run by Travis Wagner to take a commanding series lead to Spruce Grove on Saturday. NCABL MVP Ayden Cote pitched a brilliant game and team leader and general manager Jordan Brand caught one in the fifth with bases loaded to keep the Twins off the scoreboard. Derek Lofstrand led the way offensively for the Red Lions in game 1 with three hits in three at-bats.
The Red Lions dominated offensively once again in game 2 in Spruce Grove with a 9-1 victory to secure the championship. Lofstrand delivered once again for the Red Lions, securing five runs on three hits. Lofstrand was named the finals MVP due to his performance over the two games. Wagner added another home run in game 2 with Sean Baudoin, Teron Callihoo, Leyton Sharrun and Jared Lamb all having multi-hit games as well. Kyle Lawrence threw a brilliant game on the pitcher's mound, allowing only one run from the Twins and getting five strikeouts.
The Red Lions won the league title following an outstanding season where they finished top of the NCABL regular season standings with an 18-2 record and an 11-game winning streak going into the playoffs.
The Red Lions swept the Legal Primeaus in playoff semi-finals to advance to the final against the Twins.
The Red Lions, the previous weekend, were eliminated in the first round of the Western Canada Baseball Championships, losing all three games, but it seemingly did not affect their dominating performance in the finals.
This is also the Red Lions' second championship win since the passing of Chuck Keller, whose name is synonymous with the Red Lions, who play at Keller Field, named in his honour. Keller was a vital figure in forming the NCABL in the late ‘60s and had a hand on or off the field in most of the Red Lions' title wins prior to his passing in 2024. Keller was manager of the Red Lions during their title wins in 1994 and 1995, later becoming the team governor and official scorekeeper.
