The Beavers' 15U team (top left) and two 11U teams (right) who will be heading out to provincials this weekend around the province. (Submitted photos/Battlefords Minor Baseball)

By Martin Martinson

Beavers in action

Battlefords Minor Baseball ready for big weekend at provincials

Jul 15, 2022 | 4:09 PM

It’s a big weekend for Battlefords Minor Baseball with a number of community teams in action at provincials across Saskatchewan.

The 15U Beavers are at AA Tier 2 provincials in Regina, with two 11U teams in action as well at AA Tier 3 provincials in Estevan and AA Tier 5 provincials in Shellbrook.

Head coach of the 15U team, Russ Iverson said the group is excited heading into the weekend, and looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“We had our final two practices this week just kind of fine-tuning everything and it was positive and the kids were really coming together,” he said. “So I think we’re going to build on that and have a successful weekend.”

With 10 teams at the Regina tournament, the 15Us will be competing with a number of bigger centers in the province, including four from Regina and three from Saskatoon, though Iverson said he is hopeful their continuity as a team can help them find success.

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“We’re quite a young team, but these guys have been together for about six or seven years now, most of them, so they know each other well, and we’re ready to go,” he said.

The 15U Beavers just kicked off their first game at 3 p.m. against the Saskatoon Cardinals. With four teams in their pool, the Beavers must win at least two of their three games to advance to the playoff rounds as one of the top-four teams, overall.

Head coach of the younger 11U team competing in Shellbrook, Corey Russell, said his group was also itching to get playing this weekend as they headed into their first game.

While the team may have fallen 23-10 to the hosts in their opener earlier in the day, he said it hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm.

“They’re extremely excited to be here, and they’re revved up to go,” Russell said with a laugh. “The boys did well in their first game, we got a couple of hits there and some pretty good pitching, so we’re looking to have a bounce back win tomorrow versus Turtleford.”

The younger of the two 11U teams, made up of entirely first-year players, Russell’s club features just four 10-year-olds, with eight players between ages seven and eight.

Despite the loss in their opener, the team still has a chance to make the playoff rounds with a strong showing down the stretch, with at least two more games still to play against Turtleford and Humboldt. Their next game will be against Turtleford tomorrow, Saturday, morning at 8 a.m.

The older 11U team, at Tier 3 provincials in Estevan, were just wrapping up their opening game against the Prince Albert Royals at the time of writing, and will also play at least three games on the weekend.

They will return to action Saturday, at 11:30 a.m. for their next game, against the Sask 5 Sliders.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1