TISDALE — The Birch Hills Brewers claimed the first ever Highway 3 Baseball League championship.
The Brewers swept the Tisdale Rangers, 2-0, in the best-of-three league finals last week. Birch Hills won the first game, 9-6, on the road and the second, 6-5, at home.
In a tight final contest, a solo home run by Birch Hill’s Tyler Tilford in the sixth inning propelled his team to the victory. Tisdale hurler Tsar Hester and his Brewers’ counterpart Michael Springanotic each threw seven innings.
“Two really good games in the finals,” Tisdale’s Tanner Kirkland said. “Both of them were back and forth all the way to the finish. Birch Hills got the timely hits they needed and great defence/pitching propelled them to the championship. Can’t wait to get another crack at it next year.”
In the first game of the finals, the contest was tied 1-1 after first inning and 4-4 following the third. In the top of the fifth frame, the Brewers grabbed a 6-4 lead on a home run by starting pitcher Logan Casavant. They added three more runs in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 9-4. Tisdale tried to rally with two seventh inning runs but were unable to complete the comeback.
Tisdale went 5-3 in its first Highway 3 regular season. The Rangers downed the Humboldt Senior Dodgers, 2-1, in the semifinals.
“We were extremely grateful to have a season this year, once the restrictions lifted,” Tisdale’s Jordan Simoneau said. “The part that was most special about it was the involvement that the community gave us. It seemed every home game we had a full crowd which always makes the games more exciting. We had a great team this year that fell short in the finals, but we’re looking forward to the future seasons and are happy to have senior baseball back in Tisdale.”
First Season
Highway 3 organizers were pleased with the game atmosphere and the crowds the league drew in its debut season. In addition to its finals participants and Humboldt, the Highway 3 Baseball League included the Pasquia (Arborfield and Carrot River) Angels and Prince Albert Royals.
“When we first sat down and talked as a board, I knew we would get some attendance but the reaction from all the fans in all the towns has been amazing,” said Birch Hills’ Adam Morrison, a league co-founder. “The fans are truly what makes this league great and so fun to play in.”
He praised the other board members and team representatives for all their work to make the league reality. This group includes Lane Gerwing and Mike Wassil of Pasquia, Tisdale’s Tanner Kirkland, and Carter Tarnowski of Humboldt.
“I can’t express how awesome it has been working with the gentleman to run this league,” Morrison said. “This league doesn’t go without all the communication and same vision we all have. I look forward to working with these guys for a long time to keep this league going.”
The teams returned the game to communities who had not had senior baseball in a while – or ever.
“This league is not the success it is without the great people in all the communities coming together to watch some local senior baseball,” he said. “It’s been such a blessing bringing ball back to all these communities and the fans and sponsors are the one who will drive these teams for along time.
