The Sask Five Giants are still in the hunt for the Saskatoon Minor Baseball League (SMBL) 11UAAA championship crown, despite dropping an 11-4 decision to the Cardinals Energized on Monday, August 16.
Both teams now have identical 3-1 playoff records heading into the second, and final, championship game on Tuesday, August 17 at 6 pm at Kilburn Park in Saskatoon.
The SMBL 11UAAA league playoffs began August 3.The full playoff schedule and results are posted on the SMBL website.
The Sask Five Giants Giants include players from Martensville, Warman, and other area communities.
In the August 16 game, the Giants jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the opening inning, but the Cardinals responded with ten unanswered runs in the first two innings. Solid pitching and defense by the Cardinals kept the Giants off balance. A two-run homer by Giants catcher Maclain Ethier in the top of the fifth inning provided a spark, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Tonight’s game will decide the SMBL 11UAAA championship. Both the Giants and Cardinals Energized are also gearing up for the provincial championship in Saskatoon next weekend.