The Brewers celebrate together in pure jubilation moments after clinching the NSRBL championship. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Senior Baseball Champs

Wilkie Brewers win NSRBL championship

Aug 18, 2022 | 9:00 AM

The Wilkie Brewers are on top of the senior ball mountain, as North Sask River Baseball League (NSRBL) champions.

The Brewers took home a 5-4 victory in the third and deciding game of their best-of-three finals series with the Standard Hill Lakers Wednesday night in Wilkie, to clinch the title in victory, in front of family and friends.

Winning the final game at home was an added wrinkle longtime veteran, Cody Wilgenbusch said made the evening just all the more special.

“It was huge, it was all about the energy, the game’s tides shifted and we waited, but we came through when we had to,” Wilgenbusch said. “We can’t say enough about the support we get here and it felt absolutely amazing to bring it home in front of this home crowd here.”

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As is often the case, the team’s journey to the mountaintop did not come without its adversity.

Pitcher Tanner Huber, who started the game for the Brewers at the mound was forced to leave midway through the contest due to injury, after taking a ball in the lower back area.

Cory Wildeman then stepped in to close the game, helping lead the team in their comeback effort, from what at its most daunting was a 4-1 deficit.

When asked about getting the team’s final out to secure the victory, Wildeman couldn’t help but smile in sharing his thoughts on the moment.

“It felt really good, I can’t explain it… It feels like winning the World Series but obviously on a [bit] smaller scale,” he shared with a grin.

“I’ve been here two years now and we were provincial champs last year and league champs this year, so it’s been a really good run. It’s a special team here.”

Perhaps only fitting, the man to score the go-ahead run for the Brewers, to cap the comeback win, was longtime player/coach, Mike Sittler, who said the performance reflects the team’s resiliency shown all season.

“We’ve said it all year, we’re never out of a game; we’ve come back in the fifth and sixth many times before, but tonight is obviously special,” Sittler said, shaking his head with a smile.

“It’s hard to explain… winning anything is pure jubilation and to do it with our group of guys in that fashion late in the game like that, it was just awesome.”

Wilkie’s championship marks the eighth in Brewers franchise history, and the team’s first since 2016.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1