A long-time staple of the spring and summer sports scene in southeast Saskatchewan is just over a week away from the scheduled start date of its season.
The Saskota Baseball League’s opening night is scheduled for June 15. President Kelby Trimble said they will have the same regular season format as last year, with nine teams divided into three divisions.
The Estevan Tap House Wolves, who reached the league final last year only to be defeated by the Carlyle Cardinals, will be in the West Division, along with another Estevan team, the Southeast Diamondbacks, as well as the Arcola Threshers.
The Cardinals will be in the North Division. Joining them are the Kenosee Cubs and the Kipling Royals.
The East Division has the Oxbow Chiefs, the Carnduff Astros and the Redvers A’s.
“Each team will play a home and home within their division, and then play each other team just once,” said Trimble.
Teams will play a total of 10 games each in the regular season.
The Harbourne Memorial Tournament, which has traditionally been used to crown a league champion, is scheduled to return this year, if the Saskota Baseball League gets the green light. The Harbourne is traditionally held over a weekend at Kenosee Lake.
Last year saw the league have a more conventional playoff system, with best-of-three series for the quarter-finals, semifinals and final.
Games would be played during the Saskatchewan Day long weekend.
“At the league meeting, it was voted that the Harbourne was definitely (what they wanted),” said Trimble. “Everyone didn’t mind the playoff system, but I think everybody likes the Harbourne because it’s been going for how many years, it’s at a nice provincial park and you get to have a fun weekend.”
It also brings the whole league together.
Trimble said the players in the league are eager to get out and play.
They’re still looking to find out what tournaments, capacity levels and even provincials will look like this year. Provincials are tentatively scheduled to happen the week after the Harbourne tournament.
“Everything went great last year in the Saskota, and everything’s going to go great again this year,” said Trimble.
