It was as dramatic and suspenseful as a Hollywood movie.
Having come back from the brink of nearly missing the playoffs, the Westlock Red Lion won the North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL) Championship, sweeping a best-of-three series against the Sherwood Park Athletics at RE/MAX Field in Edmonton Aug. 26.
This marks the 18th time the Lions have come out on top in 50 years of NCABL action.
After a solid 6-4 victory in Game 1, Chris Brand — who was named League MVP — put any notion of a Game 2 comeback by the Athletics to rest when he hit a double at the bottom of the seventh to put the Red Lions up 8-7 to clinch the title.
“I like big moments. When I went out there I was looking for something I could drive hard and I found it,” said Brand.
“When I hit it I could tell I hit it well enough to get it past the outfielder. Once I got to first base all I could think about was cheering for my team.”
Working the bats early, the Lions scored three runs in the first inning of the series, holding the Athletics to one.
A pitching duel ensued for the next few innings before a series of beans walked a number of the Red Lions home, giving the team a 5-1 lead heading into the fifth.
Aaron Watamaniuk stole second base off an Athletics misfire and was brought home by a single from another teammate, putting the Red Lions up 6-1.
Emotions were boiling over in the August heat. As they walked off the field, one Athletics player literally began screaming at his team’s collection of bats, telling them to “wake up” which was enough to gives the A’s a jolt of energy. The Athletics were able to catch the Lions on a few missed catches, loading the bases and moving a few players home to narrow the game to 6-4 going into the sixth inning.
The Lions tightened up in the field and held the line for the remainder.
Sherwood Park was ready for Game 2, however. The pitchers dominated the first few innings until Pat Rains hit a grounder past second base to bring Jordan Brand home, putting the Lions up 1-0.
In the top of the fourth, a missed throw struck Nathan Swap on the back, allowing the A’s to get a man on base. A sacrifice hit put the A’s on the board and loaded the bases. Before the Lions realized what had happened, Sherwood Park had scored another four runs and were suddenly up 5-1.
Turning over the bats, the Red Lions began to climb back. Nathan Brown and Chris Brand hit long drives to the outfield to bring runners home before Rains capitalized on a Sherwood Park error and stole home. Jordan Brand put the Lions back on top with a double to give the Lions a 6-5 lead after four.
Keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats, Sherwood Park took the lead again in the sixth inning, loading the bases before a player was walked to home plate and another made a sacrifice hit to put the A’s up 7-6.
Westlock scored a run at the bottom of the sixth but the A’s argued that the ball was out of play and the run was called back.
“We had talked about it before the game and they said if that happens then it was their discretion,” said outgoing skipper Adam Sawatzky. “It could have cost us, but our guys were resilient and it didn’t faze us.”
In the end, it didn’t matter. The Red Lions caught three fly balls in a row to put themselves back at the plate.
Ryan Teske took a bean to get himself on first and Aaron Watamaniuk scored a hit to get him to second.
Taylor Heck made a sacrifice bunt to put Teske and Watamaniuk into scoring position before an error allowed Teske to steal home. The game was tied 7-7 when Chris Brand walked up to the plate and the rest was history.
“This game summarized our whole season. We had a strong start, a rocky middle patch and a finished with a flair,” said Sawatzky. “We couldn’t have written it any better.”
With the Red Lion dynasty holding strong — Sawatzky noted that in the 16 years he’s played with the team they’ve won eight championships — NCABL commissioner Paul Riopel was ecstatic with the exciting finish for the league’s 50th season.
“It was probably the most unpredictable finish that one could have written, if one had tried to write it,” said Riopel.
“The Red Lions seemed to be down and out at the end of the regular season, but they always find a way. They are the scrappiest, most determined, most resilient team I have ever seen in my 50 years as head of the NCABL.”
In addition to Chris Brand being named League MVP, Nathan Swap was honoured with the All-Star game MVP.
For Sawatzky, it was a picture perfect way to end his tenure as skipper.
“It’s everybody’s dream to step away on a high,” he said. “I gave everything I had and kept the guys in it for five innings today, but as sweet as this is you can really tell that it’s time.”
Sawatzky seemed to believe this was the end, though other players shouted out that they would find a way to suit him up for a few games next year.
Chris Brand will be taking over coaching duties for the Red Lions in 2018.
As he saddled up to ride into the sunset, Sawatzky got a bit sentimental, saying he was going to miss his squad.
“I love this group of guys and this team. They’re my friends and brothers — I just couldn’t have asked for a better team to play with. I’m proud to be a Red Lion.”
