Western Canadian Baseball League playoffs recap - August 8

August 8, 2019

By Jourdan Jones

Western Canadian Baseball League

(4) Edmonton Prospects vs (1) Okotoks Dawgs | 2 – 7

Okotoks leads series 1-0

The Okotoks Dawgs scored five runs in the 8th inning to pick up their first win of the postseason as they defeated the Edmonton Prospects 7-2.

Nolan Ruff was the starter for the Dawgs, tossing 7 1/3 innings, striking out nine and allowing only two earned runs. The winning pitcher was Brandon Desjardins after he came in relief of Ruff in the 8th inning, striking out one as he threw the final 1 2/3 innings.

Dawgs first baseman, Dane Tofteland crushed a homer in the victory as he finished the ballgame 2-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.

The two teams will head to Edmonton on Friday to play game two of their best-of-three series, as Okotoks only needs one more victory to head to the Division Finals.

(3) Medicine Hat Mavericks vs (2) Lethbridge Bulls | 2 – 3

Lethbridge leads series 1-0

A late homer pushed the Lethbridge Bulls over the Medicine Hat Mavericks in game one of their series as the Bulls took the ballgame 3-2.

Logan Bexten was the starter for the Bulls, tossing seven innings, where he struck out four batters and allowed only two earned runs, before Tevin Hall came in relief in the 8th inning, where he allowed only one hit. Evan O’Toole closed things out for the Bulls as the flamethrower didn’t allow a hit and stuck out one batter to earn the save.

Bulls first baseman, Kaleb Warden played hero in game one of the 2019 WCBL Postseason as he crushed a homer to deep right field in the 8th inning, which eventually stood as the winning run.

The two teams will head to Medicine Hat on Friday to play game two of their best-of-three series, as Lethbridge only needs one more victory to head to the Division Finals.

East Division

(4) Moose Jaw Miller Express vs (1) Regina Red Sox | 2 – 10

Regina leads series 1-0

The first place Regina Red Sox defeated the Moose Jaw Miller Express 10-2 to give themselves a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

WCBL Pitching Triple Crown winner, Michael Batten was the starter the Red Sox, tossing seven dominate innings, striking out 11 and allowing only two earned runs. Heibert Romero came in relief of Batten in the 8th inning, where he pitched the final two innings of the ballgame, striking out two.

Red Sox designated hitter, Willie Estrada crushed two homers in the victory, finishing the ballgame 3-5 with three RBI’s and two runs scored. Ivan Nunez also hit a homer for Regina as he went 1-4 with twi RBIs.

The two teams will head to Moose Jaw on Friday to play game two of their best-of-three series, as Regina only needs one more victory to head to the Division Finals.

(3) Weyburn Beavers vs (2) Swift Current 57’s | 2 – 5

Swift Current leads series 1-0

The Swift Current 57’s scored five runs in 6th inning to earn the 5-3 victory over the Weyburn Beavers as they take game one of their series.

Zachary Patterson started for the 57’s, tossing six strong innings, striking out 12 and allowing only three hits during his time on the mound. Diego Jordan came in relief of Patterson in the 7th, where he pitched a clean 1, 2, 3 inning, before Garrett Alexander finished things off to earn the save, throwing the final two innings of work.

57’s left fielder, John Sechen hit a homer in the victory, finishing the ballgame 1-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

The two teams will head to Weyburn on Friday to play game two of their best-of-three series, as Swift Current only needs one more victory to head to the Division Finals.