The Prince Albert U22 Royals are off to Westerns after defeating the Diefenbaker Ducks 11-9 in the decisive Game 3 of the provincial final on Sunday afternoon at Andy Zwack Field.
Prince Albert played with only nine players with first baseman Rylon Elmy fighting through an injury.
Royals head coach Patrick Robin says both teams were playing short-handed, but the Royals will be ready to go with a full roster at the Western Canadian Championships in Winnipeg.
“We were playing short handed this weekend and so were the Ducks.. They only had 10 players as well. Things just happened. There were a couple of kids working. A couple of kids couldn’t make it. Our team will be looking quite considerably different for the Westerns in Winnipeg in two weeks.”
The teams split the first two games on Saturday. Prince Albert took Game 1 by a 4-3 final score with Harris Kellington earning the win on the mound with 10 strikeouts in a complete game effort.
Diefenbaker’s bats would come alive in the second game plating 20 runs on route to a 20-7 victory.
In the decisive game 3, Prince Albert would secure the provincial title with an 11-9 victory.
Brady Robin got the nod for Prince Albert and struck out 10 batters over five and a third innings of work on 117 pitches before turning things over to Hunter Morin who recorded the final six outs.
Former Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Joe Arntsen earned the nod on the bump for Diefenbaker and threw 89 pitches before being relieved by Mason Marchuk and Jayden Jessimen.
Prince Albert would score three times in the first, third and fourth innings. The Royals would add two insurance runs in the top half of the seventh.
Diefenbaker would score twice in the bottom of the first and would explode for five runs in the third. The Ducks would add single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Robin says it was an overall good weekend of baseball from sides.
“Both teams played very well this weekend. They made some good plays. It was fun ball to watch. And for Winnipeg, we’re looking forward to it. The team will be a little different. We’re excited. We’re going to have practice this week and hopefully an exhibition game on the following Tuesday to get ready.”
The Royals advance to the 22U Western Canadian Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba beginning on August 9.
sports@paherald.sk.ca
