After a near-perfect season, the Westlock Wild Bantam boys baseball team fell 9-8 in their final game of regular season play June 22 against Legal.
The loss leaves the Wild with an 11-1 record for the season, landing them the top spot in the Edmonton Rural and Recreational Baseball League (ERRBL).
The win also secures the team a second-round berth in playoffs, which started June 25 in Westlock.
Though the game cut Westlock one inning short of a perfect season, coach Adam Sawatzky said the boys still had a lot to be proud of.
“Watching that other team, that’s probably about the best they can play,” Sawatzky said.
“The ERRBL is a 28-team league, and we finished first, so very proud of that.”
Despite the heartbreak of a near-perfect season, Sawatzky said the loss will give the boys grit heading into the playoffs — the kind of perseverance that’s kept them on top in the league all season.
“There were several games where our guys were down and we didn’t show any give,” Sawatzky said.
“They’re very resilient. We have lots of confidence going into playoffs.”
The first-place finish in the league puts the Wild straight through to playoff quarterfinals, scheduled June 25 in Westlock, giving them a leg up in the sudden death four game series.
Moving closer to finals, Sawatzky said the only thing the boys will need is what’s kept them going all year: fun and positivity.
“I know it sounds cliché, but we’re just going to play one game at a time,” he said.
“We’ve been playing really steady and consistent ball. It’s a pretty simple game — you pitch, you catch, you throw. If you do that consistently, things will usually work for you.
“We’ve got a pretty positive attitude on the team. Everybody’s there to have fun.”
