CANORA - The Canora Supers met the Langenburg Legends in a best-of-three semifinal Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Senior Baseball League series, which began on July 10 in Canora. Even though the Supers prevailed in two straight games, the two teams had to play three games worth of innings before the final game was decided.
Game 1
Heading into the bottom of the third inning of the first game in Canora, the Supers had a 2-0 lead with ace Kody Rock cruising on the hill. In that bottom of the third, the home team’s offence exploded for 13 runs to take a 15-0 lead. Shae Peterson then took over in relief on the mound and gave up one run in the top of four while the Supers offence was able to put up two more in the bottom, reported Greg Andreychuk, player/coach.
“The game seemed to be completely under control until the Legends woke up with nine runs in the top of the fifth inning to get within seven runs,” said Andreychuk. “The top of the sixth saw the Legends once again score more runs, and with two outs and the tying run on deck, Rock was forced to come back in to pitch and get the final out. The Supers then scored five in the bottom of six to take a 24-14 lead, and the game was called due to darkness.”
The Canora offence recorded 24 hits including multi-hit games by eight of the nine starters. Rock and Travis Mentanko each belted a home run. Ian Quewezance had five hits including two doubles. Brendon Landstad was in fine form with four singles. Clay Sleeva, Derek Palagian, Shae Peterson, Rock and Mentanko all chipped in with multi hit games.
Game 2
The Supers looked to close out the series with a win in Langenburg on July 11. Little did they know that it would take until July 14 to complete the job.
On July 11, Supers offence scored four in the top half of the third to take a 4-1 lead. However the Legends responded with five of their own in the bottom half to take a 6-4 lead. In the top of the third the Supers answered back with three to go up by one.
“Kody Rock came in relief of Kholton Shewchuk in the bottom of the fourth and cruised until the top of the seventh when the Legends tied the game with a double to force extra innings,” said Andreychuk.
With the skies overcast and sunset imminent, both teams tried everything in they could to win the game on this evening, but unfortunately after three extra innings the score remained tied at 7-7, forcing the game to be suspended and completed at a later date.
“After much discussion, it was decided to continue the game on July 14 in Langenburg with the Supers up to bat in the top of the 11th inning,” said Andreychuk. “Both offences stalled for three more innings until the top of the 14th when the Supers loaded the bases with none out and managed to push a run across. Rock recorded a clean 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 14th to get the win in the game and the series.”
The offence once again was in fine form recording 24 hits, highlighted by four-hit games from Quewezance and Shewchuk. Dylan Toffan, Jeff Steward, Grady Wolkowski, Rock, Landstad, and Peterson each had multi-hit games. Ty Sleeva and Riley Stewart made the trip on Friday for the completion of the suspended game and each recorded one hit.
With the win the Supers advance to the league final vs the Parkland Pirates, who eliminated the Yorkton Marlins in a close, intense deciding third game of their series.
The schedule for the final was unavailable at press time.
