Championship weekend has arrived for the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League (SPBL), and the East Central 18U AAA Red Sox are preparing for a battle that promises high stakes and hard-fought innings. With the tournament running from Thursday through Sunday at Saskatoon's Cairns and Leakos Fields, the Red Sox will open their playoff run Thursday at noon against a familiar opponent, the Sask Five Marlins.
The Red Sox finished the regular season in sixth place in a competitive 10-team field, posting a solid record over a grueling 32-game campaign. Head Coach Derek Rude is optimistic about his club’s chances heading into the double-elimination tournament.
“It’s wide open,” Rude said. “Anybody can win it. Last year, the eighth-place team took the title. So, everybody comes in with high hopes, and we’re no different.”
While the Red Sox lost key veterans to graduation last year, this season’s squad has managed to find depth both on the mound and at the plate. With only two graduating players, third-years Cade Armstrong and Carter Hulls, the team has leaned on a strong core of returning second-years and promising first-year talent.
“We’ve got some good pitching depth and put up some pretty good offense this year,” said Rude. “It was nice to see some guys adjusting well to the higher level of play.”
Among the first years making an impact are Luke Manz and Jackson Schlepper. Schlepper has impressed with his late-season offensive production.
“Jackson’s been pretty tough at the plate,” Rude noted. “In the latter half of the season, he’s really come on. Sometimes it just takes a little time to get used to this level, but they’ve both adapted well.”
The Red Sox open their tournament against the Sask Five Marlins, a club they’ve had success against during the regular season, but Coach Rude isn’t taking anything for granted.
“All the games will be tough,” he said. “Everyone brings their best come playoff time. I expect close, hard-fought games all weekend.”
At the top of the league standings are the Saskatoon Diamondbacks, widely regarded as the team to beat. But with the depth and momentum the Red Sox squad brings into the tournament, they’re not ruling anything out.
To claim the SPBL championship, a team must win as many as six games in four days—a test of stamina, pitching depth, and focus.
“It’s a long path to get there,” said Rude. “You need efficient pitching and to stay healthy. But that’s the goal - make it to Sunday and give ourselves a shot.”
With strong leadership, emerging talent, and the drive to contend, the East Central Red Sox head into championship weekend prepared for the grind and hungry for the title.