Saskatchewan win first Baseball Canada Cup since 1994
Posted August 8, 2016
By Robert Murray, Fort McMurray Today
Monday, August 8, 2016 3:19:02 MDT AM
FORT McMURRAY, AB - Down to their final out in the semi-finals against Québec, Saskatchewan appeared destined to play in Sunday’s bronze medal game. Five hours later, Saskatchewan seemed destined to accept the silver for a second straight year against British Columbia.
But those two positions seemed to only light a fire under the province’s entry in the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup as they pulled off two straight comebacks, winning the gold medal match by a 6-1 final, to capture their first championship at the tournament since 1994.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Saskatchewan head coach Greg Brons. “Just to get into a medal game is a big accomplishment for us, but to win a national championship it’s a dream come true.”
That dream was fuelled by a two-out rally in the top of the sixth. With Stefan Atkinson on second, Nolan Machibroda doubled, bringing both teams onto even ground. After Machibroda stole third, Tyler McWillie singled him in to put Saskatchewan up for good.
The offence didn’t stop though. Danny Berg hit a two-run double in the top of the seventh and Nolan Machibroda hit a two-run single as errors from British Columbia compound the problems for the three-time defending champions in the event.
Saskatchewan kept fighting from the first inning of their semi-final game Sunday afternoon. Québec bolted out of the gates with a seven-run first inning. Refusing to give up, Saskatchewan scored a pair of runs in each of the third, fourth and sixth innings. Entering their half of the seventh down 10-6, Saskatchewan continued their comeback by scoring four runs on five hits to extend the game.
Three full scoreless innings would pass by before Saskatchewan found their way onto the board, Danny Berg scoring off a one-out hit by Logan Fritzke that came after Brons had been run from the game in the seventh for arguing a call.
“These guys have a lot of heart and a lot of perseverance and I never doubted these guys at all,” Brons added. “They don’t doubt themselves, I don’t doubt them, I knew they had it in them to come back and keep fighting.
“That’s just the way they are.”
Nipawin’s Parker McRae carried Saskatchewan on the mound Sunday evening against B.C., allowing one unearned run of five and two-thirds innings on four hits while striking out a pair of batters. Dylan Bells closed out the game, allowing two hits and no runs in one and one-third innings of work.
For a province that provided some tense moments for its fanbase, Brons had a relaxed approach, one that paid off in the end.
“We just put up a lineup and watch them play.”
rmurray@postmedia.com
2016 Baseball Canada Cup Final Standings
Gold - Saskatchewan
Silver - British Columbia
Bronze - Québec
Fourth - Newfoundland and Labrador
Fifth - Alberta
Sixth - Ontario
Seventh - Nova Scotia
Eighth - Manitoba
Ninth - New Brunswick
Tenth - Prince Edward Island