Pitching will be at a premium when the Trappers and Beavers meet in the opening round of the NSRBL playoffs, as both sides boast gamebreakers both on the mound and at the plate. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

take me out to the ball game

North Battleford Beavers, Battlefords Trappers to face off in NSRBL playoffs

Aug 6, 2020 | 3:22 PM

The North Sask. River Baseball League (NSRBL) playoffs begin Saturday for the two Battlefords-based teams.

The North Battleford Beavers and Battlefords Trappers will bring in the post-season with a bang, in an all-local quarter-finals matchup Saturday evening at Beaver Lions Stadium.

Saturday’s showdown is a result of the two sides finishing fourth (Trappers) and fifth (Beavers) in the league standings at the end of regular season play.

The matchup on paper is about as close as can possibly be. Both teams finished the season with comparable stats, both on the mound and in the batter’s box, meaning it should lead to a memorable playoff battle on the diamond this weekend.

The Battlefords Trappers finished the year with a 5-3 record, and will enter the postseason on a high note after beating previously undefeated, Standard Hill in a wild 9-8 showing Tuesday.

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Player/coach of the Trappers, Gavin Nolin, said the victory can only bode well for the team’s confidence heading into the weekend.

“It’s definitely a big morale booster, for sure,” he said. “Especially since we had a pretty rough game the game before that, so for us to bounce back right away and get the win against Standard Hill, who are arguably the best team in the league, it’s definitely good for us heading into the playoffs.”

Nolin said his team is also looking forward to the prospect of playing their cross-town rivals to get the playoffs started.

“It’ll be a lot of fun. Playing them is always fun,” Nolin said. “It’ll be nice that we have the home field advantage because we beat them twice in the regular season, but we know they’re a good team and we know what they’re capable of. Those two regular season wins mean nothing now.”

The North Battleford Beavers and Battlefords Trappers stack up extremely well heading into their quarter-final playoff game Saturday at Beaver Lions Stadium. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The North Battleford Beavers finished just a win back of the Trappers, at 4-4, and much like their nemesis, also enter the playoffs on a high note overall.

Three of the Beavers’ wins came over their last four games, something not lost on player/coach of the team, Kyle Gregoire. He said the key to continuing that success through the post-season will be sticking to their game plan and continuing to make the most of their chances.

“I think it’s just about playing simple ball,” Gregoire said. “Making sure every time we head up to bat we’re taking advantage of every opportunity up there; and then on the defensive side, just making sure everybody’s ready [each inning] and making sure to make those easy outs.

“I think we’re very confident when we put out our lineup out there against any team in the league,” Gregoire added, “So we’re really happy heading into the post-season this year.”

Saturday’s game will be at 7:30 p.m. at Beaver Lions Stadium.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1