The Portage Padres are once again making a strong run for the Santa Clara Baseball League (SCBL) title, and if last year is anything to go by, fans are in for another thrilling series.
Game 1 of the best-of-five final series is set for 6:30 p.m. at Republic of Manitobah Park, where the Padres will once again take on the Plumas Pirates in a similar rematch to last year’s championship battle.
In 2024, the Padres captured the SCBL title after a back-and-forth series that culminated in a winner-take-all Game 5. Portage came out on top with an 8–5 win, clinching their fifth league title since 2016.
This year, the stakes feel just as high.
The Padres punched their ticket back to the finals after a hard-fought semifinal victory over the Carberry Royals, and Padres pitcher Kade Maryniuk says the team is ready for the challenge ahead.
“It wasn’t an easy win," Maryniuk explains. "They were hitting it pretty decent, but it felt good to get the win.”
The Padres have had a solid season against the Pirates so far, going 2-1 in the regular season series, but the team knows better than to take their opponents lightly.
"They're a young team like us, but I think if we get on their pitchers early, then we'll be fine," he continues. "We have the offense, the defense, and the pitching, so we should be good. We just have to go out there and play our game."
What’s ahead
After tonight’s opener in Portage, Game 2 of the finals will shift to Plumas on August 5, before returning to Portage for Game 3 on August 6 (if necessary).
If the series goes the distance, it will pick up after a short break, with Game 4 in Plumas on August 14, and a potential Game 5 back in Portage on August 15.
That break is due to the Padres competing in the Senior AA Provincial Championships, running August 8 to 10, where they’ll represent Portage on the provincial stage. While the overlap could complicate scheduling, the team sees the provincial play as a bonus.
“With provincials, we see a lot better arms,” he says. “That’ll help us know what to expect. Plumas has two pretty good pitchers, but if we do well at provincials, I think we’ll be fine against their guys.”
Home-field advantage
Maryniuk believes crowd support makes a real difference, especially when playing at home.
“We're hoping to get a lot of fans out. We play well when there are lots of people in the stands, and it should be some good baseball to watch.”
The Padres have long been a staple of the Portage summer sports scene, and tonight’s game offers a great opportunity for the community to show its support. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just looking for a fun night at the ballpark, the stakes are high, the weather’s looking good, and the action is sure to be worth the trip.
So, grab your ball cap, bring a lawn chair, and head down to Republic of Manitobah Park in time for first pitch at 6:30 p.m., because the Padres are ready to swing for another title.
~With files from Jared Thiessen
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