The Estevan Tower Wolves captured the Harbourne Memorial Trophy after a hard-fought 6-5 victory over the Oxbow Chiefs at Kenosee Lake Ball Park, Sunday, July 30.
The Saskota League teams - the Estevan Tower Wolves, the Oxbow Chiefs, the Carlyle Cardinals, the Redvers A's, the Arcola Threshers, the Kenosee Cubs, the Carnduff Astros, the Wawota Pats, the Windthorst Pirates and the Southeast Fireballs - all vied for the championship during three days of competition, July 28-30.
The Harbourne Trophy tops off the Saskota Baseball League's 2017 season and Estevan team captain Jolan Lingelbach says: “It was a lot of hard work by both teams. Our guys battled through it to win.”
“There wasn't a whole lot of scoring going on, but we fought hard. It was a great weekend.”
Saskota Baseball League President David Lemieux agrees.
“Congratulations to Estevan,” says Lemieux. “It was a great final between Estevan and Oxbow and it was an exciting final right to the end - and you really can't ask for more than that.”
The three-day tournament saw the reiging Harbourne champs - the Carlyle Cardinals - losing out in the semi-finals to Estevan in a 9-6 upset. Runner-up team, the Oxbow Chiefs defeated the Redvers A's in the semi-finals, 14-10.
League president Lemieux is also the coach of the Cardinals and said of his team's semi- final game: “Chris Keating of Estevan pitched extremely well. Both Carlyle and Estevan played well and it was a clean game with no errors, which is always good.”
“The final two teams - Estevan and Oxbow - both hit the ball and both played defence well. It's no surprise they were in the final.”
As League president, Lemieux says that in addition to a Harbourne Championship tournament which garnered great fan attendance, he is also pleased with the season as a whole.
“The season went very well,” he says. “The weather was very cooperative and so the guys didn't have to scramble to make up games. The fans have been great, too.”
“During the entire season - and during the Harbourne final – during any given match, any team can beat any team on any given night.”
“That makes some exciting ball - for the players and the fans.”
