WESTLOCK — With just one game left in the regular season, the Westlock Red Lions are looking to finish in the top three, after downing the current second place St. Albert Cardinals 13-0 on Aug. 1.
The visiting Barrhead Orioles will wrap up the Red Lions regular season Aug. 6 at Keller Field starting at 7:15 p.m.
The seniors men’s AA baseball team, currently sits in third place in the North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL) standings, with an 11-8 wins-losses record.
“We’ve had some ups and downs for sure,” said Red Lions general manager, Jordan Brand. “Our goal is always going to be to make the playoffs and then anything can happen from there.”
Brand said they’ve “had some good wins” and “some bad losses” during the regular season but noted the close team camaraderie that has helped strengthen their success on the field.
“One thing about our Red Lions being around for 51 years now, is we all stick together and that’s what we try to portray throughout the season,” he said.
Despite the success this year, the Red Lions have faced some challenges in the six-team league, which includes the St. Albert Cardinals, Edmonton Reds, Parkland Twins, Legal Primeaus, Barrhead Orioles and Westlock Red Lions.
“One team that’s been challenging is the Parkland Twins … nobody’s been able to touch them,” he said of the first-place team. “Right now, it’s kind of a battle between second, third and fourth place as we’re all kind of tight, with (about) a 10-8 (wins, losses record).
Their success is also the result of a joint effort this summer.
“This year has been a little bit of a different year for us. It has been a full team effort because there’s been months where some people are around and there’s been months when some people aren’t around and everyone picks up (the) slack and helps each other out,” said Brand. “Everyone’s shown up when they had to show up and help us get out (11) wins.”
The Westlock Red Lions are hosting the 2024 NCABL playoffs, that will see first place and fourth place square off in a best of three series, starting with Game 1 at 10 a.m. Aug. 10, while second and third place will battle it out, also in a best of three and will begin their series at 1 p.m.
“We want to go out there and we want to give it our all,” said Brand. “We’d love to capture another championship.”
