A pair of local senior baseball teams are beginning their final series on Monday night. The Unity Cardinals are at home to begin the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League finals, same with the Macklin Lakers in the Battle River Baseball League.
Starting in the NSRBL, the Cardinals had to wait for a winner-take-all Game 3 against North Battleford and Standard Hill to learn their finals opponent.
A rematch of last year's league finals, after splitting the first two games North Battleford outlasted their opponents with an 11-8 win in last Thursday's Game 3. The Cardinals on the other hand swept Lashburn to remain undefeated in the playoffs, Unity winners of their last 12 games overall.
Game 1 of the finals is set for Monday night at 6:30 in Wilkie. Unity has homefield advantage, but with their home diamond still not ready, Wilkie will host at least Game 1 of the series after being the Cardinals temporary home all season long.
After tonight's series opener the Cardinals will travel to North Battleford to face the Beavers on Wednesday at 7:30. If needed, Game 3 would be played on Wednesday, August 6 back in Wilkie at 6:30.
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The other series by the Alberta border sees the Macklin Lakers going for a three-peat against the Veteran Bulls, the two sides third straight finals matchup.
Both Macklin and Veteran had a setback in their semi-final series, losing Game 2, but bounced back with wins in Game 3 against their respective opponents of Amisk and Czar to set up a third straight date for the BRBL trophy.
The series will start tonight with Game 1 at 6:30 in Macklin, and like the NSRBL final, will continue on Wednesday at 6:30 in Veteran. No word was given on a potential Game 3 with Macklin also penciled in for provincials this weekend down in Carnduff.
The only difference from last year is that Macklin has home-field advantage. Last year's series went to three games, the Lakers taking a 6-5 win on the road.
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The NSRBL and BRBL are the only two local senior leagues left. Between those series and senior provincials coming up at the start of August, senior ball season is on life support with only a few weeks remaining.