The 2021 AA Tier 2 Provincial Champion, Wilkie Brewers. Back row (L-R): Damian Lantz, Robert Cey, Cory Wildemen, Steve Redlich, Jake Mamer, Cody Wilgenbusch, Gavin Wourms. Front row (L-R): Rick Cey, Ryne Keller, Braden Polreis, David Schell, Mike Sittler, Jared Herle, Derek Keller. (Submitted photo/WIlkie Brewers)

By Martin Martinson

Senior AA Champions

Wilkie Brewers reflect on provincial gold in North Battleford

Aug 11, 2021 | 12:26 PM

The Wilkie Brewers are atop the mountain as senior baseball provincial champions.

Even after a couple of days of letting that sink in following the team’s perfect 4-0 run to a gold medal over the weekend in North Battleford, the feeling remains something special for the local area club and their supporters in the region.

Player-coach with the Brewers, Mike Sittler said he couldn’t be more proud of the group for what they were able to accomplish through hard work and a true team effort.

“We had just the right mix of guys on the team,” Sittler said. “We’ve had the same core of players for a number of years now and our guys were just committed to winning. We played well, played hard and got contributions from every guy on the team, and managed to pull it out which was pretty cool.”

Pictured L-R: Jared Herle (#29), Cody Wilgenbusch (#20), Mike Sittler (#64), Rick Cey (#19), David Schell (#22) pose for a snap with the provincial championship plaque. (Submitted photo/Mike Sittler)

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Opening the tournament Friday with a 2-0 win over the Lloyd Twins, the Brewers then topped the Kindersley Stallions 3-1 later in the day to earn a Saturday bye and a punched ticket to the playoff semifinals Sunday.

In the semis versus Standard Hill, the Brewers bested the Lakers 11-8, to advance to the gold medal game. There they played likely their best game of the tournament in a 13-7 victory over Parkland to clinch Tier 2 AA provincial gold for their community.

The provincial championship was the Brewers’ first at the Tier 2 level, and first since back-to-back AA titles at the Tier 3 level in 2015 and 2016.

Steve Redlich, who was named Brewers’ team MVP during the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League (NSRBL) season, said winning in North Battleford, just 40 minutes or so from Wilkie, also allowed for a pretty special experience for the team.

“It was really nice because all our friends and family could come out and watch, so we kind of had that fan base still, and the stands were pretty full throughout which was cool to see,” he said. “When you have a good year, in a good league you have high expectations, so to come out on top with the win is pretty exciting.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1