Two U18 baseball teams that play games in Estevan reached the semifinals of their respective provincial tournaments this year.
The South East Performance Pump U18 AAA Twins, who play the bulk of their home games in Estevan, lost 3-0 to the Regina Red Sox in the semis on Sunday, but still had one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, posting a record of 21-10 during the regular season.
The Twins opened provincials with a 14-3 victory over the Regina Athletics. The Twins scored at least three times in four of the seven innings.
Callum Hollinger scored four times in the game, Brody Dorrance had four runs batted in and Carter Beck had three runs, three hits and three RBIs.
Starter Mason Fichter and relievers Hunter Stewart and Nathan Yunick combined to allow just five hits and strike out nine.
Their next game was a 9-3 loss to the Saskatoon Cubs. The Cubs scored seven times in the fourth inning to break open a 2-2 game. Dorrance had a double and a triple for the Twins, and scored twice in the game.
Relievers Aiden Trimble and Hollinger combined to give up just one unearned run in four innings.
The Twins regrouped to edge the Saskatoon Giants 5-4 and qualify for the semifinals. Stewart had two hits and three RBIs for the Twins, including the game-winning base hit in the bottom of the seventh. The Twins were down 4-3 entering the final inning.
Cooper Walbum went the distancing, giving up four runs in seven innings and striking out five.
The Twins season came to an end in the 3-0 loss to the East Central Red Sox in the semifinals. The Red Sox scored twice in the sixth inning ot pull away.
Hollinger and Beck had doubles for the Twins in the loss.
Mason Fichter was on the mound, and he gave up three runs and struck out five in six innings.
Meanwhile, Beck, who hails from Carnduff, was named the most valuable player and the top hitter for the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s U18 AAA division.
He had a .470 batting average, an .585 on-base percentage, 31 runs, 24 runs batted in and 73 total bases in 24 games played.
Beck is the second player from the Twins to win the award in the past four seasons. In 2019, Tyren Dorrance took home both awards.
Meanwhile, the Estevan U18 AA Brewers lost 7-2 to the Saskatoon Blue Jays in the semifinals.
Estevan opened the tournament with a 5-3 win over the White Butte Broncos. Tyler Saigeon had three hits and two runs to lead the Brewers’ offence.
Jayden Kuchinka pitched a complete game, allowing three runs, but just one earned, over the course of seven innings.
Their next game was a 10-3 victory over the North Battleford Beavers. The Brewers scored four times in the first and added two more in the second for the offence they needed. Tyler Saigeon had three runs, while Tallan Howie scored twice and brought in two.
Tyler Saigeon had the Brewers’ second straight complete game, allowing three runs, but one was unearned.
Up next was a 13-5 defeat against the Saskatoon Athletics. The A’s used a six-run fourth inning to take an 11-4 lead through four innings. The Brewers did have a balanced attack offensively, with nine of 11 batters recording a hit.
In the semifinal, the Brewers led 1-0 in the third, but the Blue Jays pulled away. Tanyan Strudwick had two hits for the Brewers.
Justin Linthicum didn’t allow a hit in two innings of scoreless relief.
The Brewers were 4-11 at one point to start the season, but then rattled off eight straight wins, only to lose their final game of the regular season.
They will compete at Western Canadian championships as the host team from Aug. 18-21.
The Estevan TS&M U13 AA Brewers, meanwhile, went 1-2 at their provincial tournament in Maidstone, but outscored their opponents in those three games.
Estevan opened the tournament with a 4-3 loss to the host Maidstone Lakers, who would go on to win the tournament.
Estevan’s next game was a 16-7 drubbing of the North East Expos, but they dropped their final game 7-5 to the Muenster Red Sox.
The U13 Brewers’ season isn’t over, either, as they will also host a Western Canadian tournament from Aug. 18-21.
