The Westlock Grey Lions can now call themselves Canadian champions after going undefeated at the Canadian National Oldtimers Baseball Federation Championship in Medicine Hat July 28 to Aug. 1.
Under the Westlock Lions banner, Rick Sereda, Keith Szautner, Dean Fagnan, Kevin Cyr, Rainie Gervais and Dean Rau, along with several other Alberta West Central Baseball Association players, fought their way to the top slot in the 43-plus age category.
The team went undefeated through five games, three round-robin games, a semifinal game and the team’s 10-1 victory in the finals against defending national champions from Scarborough, Ont.
“It was a fun weekend. The weather was perfect. It’s kind of a desert down in Medicine Hat: sunny and 36 degrees Celsius every day,” said Sereda.
“The ball diamonds were fantastic, maybe the best that we’ve played a tournament on.”
The Lions won their first game on July 29 against Yorkton 7-1, then followed up with an 8-1 win over Lacombe the following morning.
The real challenge of the weekend came Saturday afternoon against Regina, who the Lions defeated 9-5 in the last game of round-robin play.
“That was the game that caused us the biggest concern,” Sereda said. “They throw well. They’re good hitters and are just good ball players.”
Sereda said a heavy-hitting lineup helped them top Regina and most of the other teams throughout the tournament.
“We had 11 or 12 very strong hitters, tough outs,” Sereda said.
“Even if one or two guys weren’t hitting for that game, there were other guys who were.”
The Lions beat Camrose in the semifinal 8-1, putting them in the finals with Scarborough for another easy win.
Sereda added that the players’ familiarity with one another was another major factor in dominating the entire Oldtimers Championship.
“We know each other, so it’s not that we were totally foreign,” Sereda said.
He added that player feedback was positive and the win hopefully mean the Lions will be back in 2017 to defend their title in Hamilton, Ont.
