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GREY LIONS TOP AWCBA

The Westlock Grey Lions are Alberta West Central Baseball Association champions for the fourth time in five years. The Lions beat the Fort Saskatchewan Red Sox 2-1 in the best-of-three series played in St. Albert Aug. 16, 17, and 19.
The Westlock Grey Lions stand proud with their AWCBA championship trophy Aug. 19 in St. Albert following a 2-1 championship series win over Fort Saskatchewan. L-R TOP ROW:
The Westlock Grey Lions stand proud with their AWCBA championship trophy Aug. 19 in St. Albert following a 2-1 championship series win over Fort Saskatchewan. L-R TOP ROW: Carmen Brown, Dean Fagnan, Rod Lewis, Doug Hanlan, Troy Grandberg, Sheldon McConaughy, Raine Gervis, and Rick Sereda. BOTTOM ROW: Ryan Rau, Dean Rau, Kevin Cyr, Curtis Smith, Brad Sharrun and Keith Szautner. Missing is Rick Provencal.

The Westlock Grey Lions are Alberta West Central Baseball Association champions for the fourth time in five years.

The Lions beat the Fort Saskatchewan Red Sox 2-1 in the best-of-three series played in St. Albert Aug. 16, 17, and 19.

Westlock claimed Tuesday’s game 3-1, following that with a loss 9-1 on Wednesday, but pulled through with an 8-4 win to claim the title last Friday.

The Lions lost last year’s title to the St. Albert Cardinals, and manager Rick Sereda said that it was good to be back on top.

“It was a lot of fun. Very intense game,” Sereda said.

The Lions scored five runs in the first inning of the final game, giving them a leg up.

“It’s way easier to start ahead in any sport, including baseball,” Sereda added.

Sereda also took the time to thank the club’s dedicated fan base. The fans, he said, are there for them, win or lose.

“We probably had 50 fans again and at this age, to have that support is really something special,” he said.

The 2016 post-season marks another major footnote — it will be the last for Sereda and co-manager Keith Szautner.

Szautner is moving to Calgary and at 53 years of age, Sereda is also stepping down.

Sereda played for 17 years with the Westlock Red Lions, and five with the Grey Lions, coaching the senior Lions for three of those five years.

He said the transition will be filled with satisfaction after nearly a quarter century of playing ball in Westlock.

“For me, it’s very bittersweet. It’s fun to win but it’s absolutely sad to know that’s the last time I can play with these guys,” he said.

“Many of them are not just my teammates; they’re my friends. It’s something I’ve looked forward to in January, knowing that baseball was only a few months away. It’s been an important part of my life since I was a little kid.

“Playing with the Lions is something I take pride in — we all have. We take pride in keeping the traditions we have as Red Lions together with this team.”

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