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The Portage Phillies U15 AA baseball team captured the Manitoba Provincial Championship this past weekend, capping off an undefeated tournament run with a thrilling 5-4 victory over the South Central Cubs at Simplot Millennium Park's field 4.
The Phillies dominated pool play and powered through the playoffs to claim the title on Sunday evening.
Head Coach Rob Olson reflected on the team's perfect performance throughout the weekend in Brandon.
"Weekend went really well," he says, "We ended up 4-0 in the pool play and then won our semi-final. And of course, we won the final Sunday evening."
The championship game was a nail-biter, with the Phillies edging out the South Central Cubs 5-4.
Players seal the deal
Second baseman Bryce Olson, son of the head coach, experienced a personal highlight in the decisive moment.
"Well, it was pretty cool. The team did really good that game, and I ended up getting the final play, which was pretty cool."
His excitement about the season was palpable, as he declared, "We had a really good team, had some good teammates, and this is probably the funnest year of baseball I've had."
Kolton Plett, the team's backstop and son of Assistant Coach Kevin Plett, shared Bryce's elation despite battling a strained voice from cheering. Despite that, however, he sang his team's praises, saying, "It felt amazing. It was a great group of guys to do it with, and I wouldn't have planned it out any other way."
Kolton also highlighted the significance of the win with his long-time teammates. "For all the minors who are on our team, it's our second time winning these provincials in a row, and this group of guys I've been playing with my whole life. It's just been awesome."
Coaches praise team growth & effort
Assistant Coach Kevin Plett emphasized the collective effort and key moments that led to victory, particularly in the final.
"In the final, Gage Brennan had a great game," he recalls, "He pitched, started the game on the mound, and he had a big two-run home run for us. I think that was early on in the game there, but that really got us going."
He also stressed the broader life lessons learned through the season, adding, "I just hope they can take what they learned with them. They all learned a lot. They all came a long way. I just hope that they can draw back on these memories, and what it took to win and what it took to be successful, all the practice and all the hours of preparation that they put into it - all that it can pay off in the end."
Head Coach Rob Olson echoed the sentiment of team unity and development, underscoring the rewarding experience of coaching. "The team played well, their pitching was fantastic, hitting was good, and defence was good. All the kids just gelled well all year, looked after each other, and they were genuine. They cared about each other, and it was just a, a, a great team to coach."
He highlighted the positive environment fostered by the coaching staff, all fathers of players.
"We had four coaches this year, and I just think it's fun to have fun with the kids and it's fun to coach them, and I just hope they get something out of it, learn lots and be better people for it."
With the AA season concluded, players like Bryce Olson look towards other pursuits, potentially more baseball or hockey in the fall and winter.
The Phillies' triumph marks the end of their competitive schedule, leaving them with a provincial title and memories of a standout season.
Full scores from the tournament weekend can be found on the Baseball Manitoba website: https://www.baseballmanitoba.ca/event/92842.
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