The Wilkie Brewers will have to make some extra room on their trophy cabinet.
Just days after winning a second straight provincial championship, the Brewers captured their first North Saskatchewan River Baseball League title since 2008 following a two-game sweep of the Standard Hill Lakers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome to have a season like this, especially for a small town like Wilkie,鈥� Brewers pitcher David Schell said. 鈥淏aseball鈥檚 always huge here so to win two titles is very exciting.
鈥淭he provincials are what we play for each year but to win the league championship is the icing on the cake. It鈥檚 been awhile since we have won it so that makes it pretty special.鈥�
Following a dominant 12-2 romp Tuesday in the first game of the series in Wilkie, the Brewers wrapped up the season Wednesday with a 5-4 triumph over the Lakers in Silver Lake.
鈥淲e knew that it was going to be a much tighter game with it being in their home park and with a strong young pitcher (Cooper Olson) being on the mound for them,鈥� Schell said.
鈥淐ooper鈥檚 only 17 and he鈥檚 tough to get a hit off of. He has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the league.鈥�
The Lakers actually struck first with a home run in the bottom of the first inning but the Brewers kept things close before Rick Cey hit a solo shot in the top of the seventh frame to move out in front for good.
鈥淲e had a few chances to help our cause in the later innings but we ended up leaving the bases loaded on a couple of occasions,鈥� Schell said.
鈥淩ick had that big home run but it was another one of those games where everyone contributed. Jared Herle used his speed to score the tying run from second base on a play that wasn鈥檛 very easy. That was a big moment for us.鈥�
After taking to the mound during the provincial playoffs in Rosetown on the weekend and getting the call in the first game of the final, Schell had the night off as Rob Cey got the start for the Brewers.
鈥淩ob really settled in after giving up that early home run,鈥� Schell said. 鈥淗e pitched really well and allowed us to have a chance to win.鈥�
When asked what was the key to the Brewers success this season, Schell pointed to an offence that seemed to score runs in bunches whenever they wanted to.
鈥淲hen you look through our entire lineup I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a weak batter in the group,鈥� Schell said. 鈥淚 certainly wouldn鈥檛 want to face them as a pitcher as there are no easy outs in that group.
鈥淲e also had a never give up attitude. It didn鈥檛 matter if we were down by three or four runs this year. We always felt like we had a chance to win.鈥�
The Brewers will look to continue their success next season. However, their lineup might have a different look to it.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always the odd veteran that says that this will be their last year and this would be a good way to go out with a couple of championships here,鈥� Schell said.
鈥淎 couple of guys have been very stern that this would be their last year and it will be a shame to lose them. However, there鈥檚 always some strong players ready to go and we will always have a team here in Wilkie.鈥�
