ESTEVAN - The Estevan U15 AA Brewers baseball team is looking to build cohesion heading into the Western Canada Baseball Championships that will be held in Estevan from Aug. 18-21.
The Brewers will be comprised of players from throughout the province. There will be four players from Estevan who were part of the team that competed in league play and Tier 3 provincials in Estevan last month, and then there will be five players from Lumsden, two each from Radville, Weyburn and Unity, and one each from Macklin, Kerrobert and Moose Jaw.
“We’ve seen some of them play,” said coach Dave Lozinsky. “Other players were through word of mouth from our contacts throughout minor baseball in Saskatchewan.”
Their first practice will be Aug. 17 and they will have a second practice the following day. Their first game is Aug. 19.
Lozinsky said it will be important to build continuity.
“From what I’ve seen so far, the players are meshing really well. They all have one focus in mind, and that’s to play some good baseball and be competitive and have fun at the end of the day. Some of these kids are talking away from the field now,” said Lozinsky.
They will also need to figure out when to use the pitchers during the games.
The Brewers will open the tournament on Aug. 19 against B.C.’s Carnarvon/Gordon Head South Island Royals at 8:30 a.m. Then they will play the Alberta representatives, the Stettler Storm, at 4:45 p.m.
Their lone game on Aug. 20 is against the Saskatchewan representatives, the Weyburn Beavers, at 2 p.m. And they will close out the round robin against Manitoba’s Midwest team on Aug. 21 at 11:15 a.m.
If a tie-breaker is needed, it would be played at 2 p.m. on Aug. 21 and the final would be at 4:45 p.m. If there isn’t a tie-breaker, the final will start at 2 p.m.
All games for the U15s are slated to be played at Mel Murray Cactus Park.
The Brewers would be familiar with the Saskatchewan representatives from Weyburn, and one of the Brewers’ coaches, Alan Walker, has contacts in Alberta and knows some of the people involved with the Stettler club.
“They lost only two games all year, so they’re going to be tough,” said Lozinsky
B.C. always comes with a strong team, he said, and it sounds like a Manitoba team will be tough to beat.
Lozinsky said the four Estevan kids are very excited to play in front of their family and friends at home.
“I think it’s a huge opportunity and I think they’re going to learn a lot,” said Lozinsky.
The players who are part of the U15 Brewers should get a big boost in their development as they progress through the game, thanks to the calibre of baseball that will be played during the tournament.
“It’s going to make them want to work harder and be really focused on their gameplay,” said Lozinsky.
He hopes to see some big crowds for what he expects will be some excellent baseball.
“I really hope the community gets out to see all of the kids play. It’s going to be some great baseball, and we don’t get this all of the time.”
Lozinsky credited Mel Murray for the work he has done at the ball diamonds to get them looking great, and Nadra Williamson for all of the time she has spent behind the scenes.
