Beavers/Sox showdown highlights NSRBL semi-finals

Beavers’ pitcher, Kyle Palmer said heading into the semis the team are looking forward to the challenge ahead the Sox present.

“Meadow’s going to be a good series,” he said. “As long as we play sound defensively and that keeps us in the game, I think we can hit with anybody and pitch with anybody, so the biggest thing is our defense and if we can lock in defensively then good things will happen.”

Meadow Lake, who finished 9-3, have continued to roll this post-season, topping the #7 Mervin Flyers in their opening series in two straight games. Going on two weeks since their last game, a veteran infielder with the Sox, Craig Weran said the team are chomping at the bit to return to action against the Beavers.

“We’re looking forward to the matchup and looking forward to getting started,” he said. “We last played on Tuesday of last week so it’s been a little bit of a layoff here waiting for the other series to end, so now as we get started on this second round it should be a good matchup and we’re looking forward to it.”

The Beavers and Sox split their regular season series at a game apiece, with the Sox taking the season opener, 6-0 back on May 25, and the Beavers winning the most recent game between the two, 10-3 back on June 15.

Series schedule:

Game 1: Sunday @ 6:30 p.m. at Meadow Lake

Game 2: Tuesday @ 7:30 p.m. at North Battleford

*Game 3: Thursday @ 6:30 p.m. at Meadow Lake

*If needed

Standard Hill Lakers vs. Unity Cardinals

The Lakers and Cardinals wasted no time in getting the semi-finals kicked off, as Standard Hill took a 9-6 victory in Game 1 of the series Thursday night at Silver Lake.

For the Lakers, the game served as the team’s first game action since their regular season finale back on July 6, after receiving a bye in the opening round of the playoff as the top seed overall, after finishing the season 11-1.

The Standard Hill Lakers pictured here, lead their best-of-three semi-finals series with Unity 1-0. (Submitted photo/Garry Pauls)

Coach/manager and third baseman with the Lakers, Garry Pauls said the key to success in the opening game was the same as it’s been all season long, with strong pitching, solid defense and timely hitting.

“They’re a really strong hitting team and they came out flying right away, but as the game went along we just kind of hung in there, battled back and took the lead in the sixth inning and didn’t let up,” He said. “Unity made a couple of errors late in the game and we capitalized, but otherwise it was a tight game all the way through.”

The turning point of Game 1 saw left-fielder Austin Jamieson make a diving play to throw the runner out at home late, followed by a clutch home run hit by Masen Anderson to give the Lakers the lead late.

Unity will be looking for a quick bounce-back in Game 2 of the series, as the scene shifts to their home field. The fourth seed overall, the Cardinals entered the semis red hot in their own right, having won six of their last seven games including a two-game sweep of the fifth-seeded Lloyd Twins in the opening round of the playoffs.

Series schedule:

Game 1: 9-6 Lakers, final

Game 2: Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m. at Unity

*Game 3: Thursday @ 6:30 p.m. at Silver Lake

*If needed

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Beavers/Sox showdown highlights NSRBL semi-finals

What's Trending