First off, while most you know you Luke Boechler as a goaltender, he's also a darn good second baseman for the Yorkton Jr Cardinals. Luke's recovery from Leukemia continues, and he's ready to lead the Cards into the SESBL Finals this week, and provincials this weekend.
There's a great story in this morning's Leader-Post by Ian Hamilton about Luke. Give it a read.
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WMBL: Mils Clinch 2nd, Cards 'Technically' Still Alive
I keep resisting saying that the Yorkton Cardinals are eliminated from WMBL playoff contention, because they're still not. The Cards lost 10-4 to Okotoks last night, and Weyburn also lost to Regina. That keeps Yorkton 2.5 games out of a playoff spot, with 2 SCHEDULED games remaining, tomorrow, at home against Regina, and then Thursday in Weyburn. However, if they're still in the race after that, there were two rain-outs in Edmonton earlier this month, and it looked like they wouldn't be made up. There's a chance they'll try to get them in if it means making the playoffs or missing. The games will be meaningless for Edmonton, who are in the league's basement. It would likely mean a double header on Friday in Edmonton, roughly 10 hours away, with Game 1 of the playoffs scheduled to go on Saturday. Finances could also be a factor, as the Cardinals already drove to Edmonton once, only to play no games due to the weather. Can they afford to make that trip again?
As far as the Melville Millionaires, it's clear where they're finishing in the East Division, but their first round playoff opponent could still be one of three teams. The playoff format's a little tough to follow in the WMBL, but I think I've finally got it. Three divisions, the last place team in each misses the playoffs... that's the easy part. Three teams from the East, and three from the West get in. The Central Division has one less team, so one of the two Central teams goes to the East, the other to the West for the playoffs. Which one goes where, depends on which division leader (East or West) has the better record, or winning percentage. The Division whose leader has the best record (or %), gets the 2nd place team from the Central on their side, while the 1st place team in the Central goes the other way.
Standings as of today...
EAST
Regina .750
Melville
Weyburn
CENTRAL
Swift Current
Moose Jaw
WEST
Okotoks .721
Medicine Hat .689
Lethbridge
Playoffs would be:
EAST
Regina .750
Melville .513
Moose Jaw .425
Weyburn .410
*Melville would play Moose Jaw if Regina keeps top spot in the league. Although it could also be Weyburn if they end up with a better record than Moose Jaw (they play each other tonight). Either way, the Mils would have home field advantage.
If Okotoks ends up first overall... Moose Jaw would go to the West, and the East side would look like this...
EAST
Regina .750
Swift Current .605
Melville .513
Weyburn .410
*Melville would have to start on the road against Swift Current, a tougher opponent, and away from home. Mils fans should be pulling for Regina right about now!
These scenarios are based on Yorkton missing the playoffs. Again, they COULD still make it.
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SESBL: Championship Starts Tonight
The Yorkton Jr Cardinals are looking for their 3rd straight title in the South East Senior Baseball League, and this year's final is a rematch of last year's. The Jr Cardinals welcome the Willowbrook Royals for Game 1 of the Best-of-Five series tonight, 8:00 at Jubilee Park under the lights. This is the only scheduled game so far, as the series isn't expected to resume until after this weekend, with the Jr Cards hosting Junior 'AAA' Provincials Friday-Sunday. A week from today would be a safe bet for Game 2 in Willowbrook, but nothing confirmed.
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Tri-Highway Fastball League Playoffs
Ochapowace beat Grenfell 2-games-to-none.
Pearl Creek and Esterhazy tied 1-1. Game 3 Wednesday in Esterhazy.
Rhein at Yorkton TC tonight, Rhein leads series 1-0.
Balcarres gets a first round bye.
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South East Men's Fastball League: Playoffs Start Tonight
The Fleming Jr Jets get a bye to the second round for finishing 1st.
Game 1 in each first round series goes tonight at 7:30
(7) Treaty Four @ (2) Fleming Senior Jets
(Game 1 of the Best-of-Three series)
(6) Moosomin Mavericks @ (3) Broadview Buffs in Grenfell
(Game 1 of the Best-of-Three series)
(5) Whitewood Falcons @ (4) Kipling Oilers in Langbank
(Game 1 of the Best-of-Three series)
All series continue with Game 2 on Thursday.
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