Connor Neave of the North Battleford Beavers helped lead the team to victory in Game 2 in Unity, hitting a triple and a couple RBI in the win. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

A clutch performance

Exciting night in NSRBL sees Beavers force deciding Game 3

Jul 15, 2022 | 1:01 PM

It was a “win to stay in” for the North Battleford Beavers Thursday night in Unity, and the team delivered with a convincing 5-1 final over the Unity Junior Cardinals.

The victory sets up a third and deciding game between the two clubs Tuesday, to determine who will advance to the semi-finals of the North Sask River Baseball League (NSRBL) playoffs.

Veteran outfielder/manager with the Beavers, Kyle Gregoire said the team knew they had to bring their best with the season on the line.

“We definitely had to step up our game there after a hard one to lose in Game 1, where we kind of let the game slip away from us,” Gregoire said. “Game 2 we were ready to get going and we really had some great pitching from Mike Ross, with some timely hitting from Andrew Hudec and Connor Neave, so it was a really good performance all in all that led to the success.”

Ross pitched a complete game on the mound for the Beavers, posting over 10 strikeouts and allowing just a single run, while Hudec and Neave added a tipple each with a couple of RBIs apiece in the victory.

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Tuesday’s series-deciding Game 3 will be back in North Battleford, at Diamond #4 behind the ACC. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.

The Beavers and Junior Cardinals will be the lone series to go the distance of the quarterfinals matchups.

In other action around the NSRBL, the top-seeded Macklin Lakers closed out their series with the number-eight, Mervin Flyers with a 13-3 victory to take the series in two straight, while the third-place Wilkie Brewers also closed out their series with the sixth-seeded Kindersley Stallions.

Taking home a 6-4 win over the defending champions, Wilkie will now advance to the semis as well and ensure there will be a new champion atop the senior baseball podium at the end of the postseason.

The pair join the fifth-seeded Standard Hill Lakers, who topped fourth-place Meadow Lake in two straight games earlier in the week, and are also awaiting word on their semi-finals opponent.

The full NSRBL playoff schedule is available here.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1