The U18 Beavers are a young team that look to have a bright future ahead. However, the team isn’t waiting around to make some noise in the postseason. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Youthful Enthusiasm

U18 Beavers have hot start to postseason

Aug 19, 2020 | 12:56 PM

The U18 Beavers baseball team kicked off their postseason with a bang Tuesday night, topping sixth-seeded, Prince Albert 13-5.

Following the win, the team will now advance to the North Final this evening against the second place Saskatoon Braves, in Saskatoon.

The Beavers’ early postseason success should come as no surprise, as the team finished the regular season third in the North, with a 12-7-1 record.

However, what makes the group’s proficiency really impressive, is just how young the roster is this year. The Beavers feature just two third-year players and three second-years, while five are in their first year of U18 eligibility and another two are playing as under-agers.

Head coach of the team, Dean Dimmick said it’s been something special to see the players come together and achieve the success they have this season; he said it is a testament to their work ethic.

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“I think this core is really dedicated to playing and just love the game of baseball,” Dimmick said. “A lot of these kids work really hard throughout the year honing their skills and it shows.”

Dimmick said the group’s success has been also been due, in large part, to their ability to win games in various ways this season.

“Our bats can be really good one night and our pitching can be very good as well, so it’s been a combination of a lot of things,” he said. “Probably what sets our tone is our team speed. We steal lots of bases and we have a couple guys that are tough to harness, they’re free to steal pretty much any time and they’re really tough outs to be thrown out.”

With such a young team making noise this season, Dimmick said it can only bode well for the local Minor Baseball Association.

“This group shows what we can do and that the future is bright for baseball in the Battlefords,” Dimmick said. “I think as an organization this will be a bit of a team to look up to for the younger guys. We’ve really excelled for a young team and we’re looking forward to what’s still to come with this young group.”

Should they win tonight, the Beavers will punch their ticket to the league final against the winner of the south division, Thursday.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1