SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - A sports tradition in southeast Saskatchewan is set to make its return Thursday night, with opening night for the Saskota Baseball League’s 2023 season.
The league has expanded to 11 teams this year. The Weyburn Pump Jacks Sun Devils and the Moosomin Badgers will join the nine existing clubs: the Estevan Tap House Wolves, Carlyle Cardinals, Southeast Diamondbacks, Carnduff Astros, Oxbow Chiefs, Redvers As, Arcola Threshers, Kenosee Cubs and Kipling Royals.
Due to the number of teams, the league has been split into two divisions. The Wolves, Diamondbacks, Astros, Chiefs, Sun Devils and Threshers are in the South Division, while the Cardinals, As, Cubs, Sun Devils and Royals are in the North Division.
Games for Thursday night will include Kipling at Kenosee, Carlyle at Redvers, Oxbow at Carnduff and the Diamondbacks at Estevan. Friday will see Weyburn make its debut in a game at Arcola, while Moosomin will have to wait for Tuesday to play its first game against Carlyle.
Most of the games will occur on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Only 10 games on the initial schedule are to occur on other nights of the week.
Teams will play a 14-game schedule. A team in the North Division will play twice against each of its division rivals, and once against each team from the South.
A team in the South Division will play twice against four of its division rivals, once against another division foe, and once against each team in the north.
The Jack Harbourne Memorial Tournament, which is used to crown the league’s champion, will run from July 28-30 in Estevan.
The Cardinals are seeking their fourth straight league title.
