The North Battleford Beavers record may not be as good as they expected, but they are positioned to make the playoffs and from there anything can happen.
The Beavers have two North Saskatchewan River Baseball League games left and they hope to build some momentum, as the do-or-die baseball season is about to set in.
"We would really like to get a good winning streak going into playoffs," said Beavers' manager Ryan Shepherd. "Also it would be nice to gain a little more confidence in our defence."
That defence had them in some trouble in their two NSRBL games last week, but the Beavers did manage a win and a tie.
First the Beavers beat the Unity Midget 8-7 Thursday night and followed that up with an 11-11 tie against the Unity Cardinals Friday.
The Beavers trailed the Unity Midgets most of the game until a big rally in the seventh inning and some unearned runs helped them prevail for the victory.
Friday night, the Beavers and Unity were both playing their second game in as many nights and the fatigue may have been a cause for the defensive errors.
Ryan Mikituk started on the mound for the Beavers and had a solid performance with Mathew Benson coming in later to finish the game. Both pitchers were strong, but it was the Beavers' resilience that was key in the game. For the second time in as many nights, the Beavers trailed by a handful of runs and again avoided the loss. At one point North Battleford trailed 6-1 to the Cardinals.
The Beavers and Cardinals game was eventually called due to darkness since the lights at Beaver Lions Stadium are not yet repaired and won't be ready for use until football season starts for the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings.
The Beavers sit at 7-4-1 and in sixth place with two important games remaining. With a playoff spot clinched the Beavers could find themselves in anywhere from fifth to eighth in the standings.
The Beavers final two games are on the road, first in Lloydminster against the Border City Blue Jays Tuesday and Thursday they go to Standard Hill.
Tuesday's game is especially important. First, the Beavers are chasing the Blue Jays who are 8-5 and secondly, the game is not only a league game, but will count as game two of the Beavers and Jays' best-of-three provincial A series.
Game one was scheduled for Monday night at Beaver Lions Stadium with a possible game three Wednesday in Lloydminster.
