The U13 Lakers with their tier 1 provincial championship won as the host team. (Submitted photo/Brett Harrison)

By Martin Martinson

Let's play ball

U13 Maidstone Lakers Western Canadians bound

Aug 19, 2022 | 9:00 AM

The U13 Maidstone Lakers baseball team are off to the Western Canadian Championships this weekend to represent Saskatchewan.

Taking place Aug. 19–21 in Estevan, the tournament will feature top U13 teams from across the surrounding provinces, including many from larger city centres.

Although that’s nothing new for the young Lakers’ ball club.

Cruz Harrison (right) and Turner Pauls (left) of the Maidstone Lakers pictured here with the provincial tier 1 champions plaque. Cruz is the son of Brett Harrison and Turner the son of Garry Pauls, both of whom play together on the Standard Hill Lakers senior team, and coach the Maidstone U13s. (Submitted photo/Brett Harrison)

The U13s punched their ticket to Westerns taking home their third consecutive provincial championship at tier 1 provincials July 22–24, a tournament held in their home community.

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Winning in commanding fashion, the ‘mini Lakers’ ran the table at the provincial tournament, winning all three of their round-robin games, before adding back-to-back victories over Martensville in the semi-finals and Humboldt in the finals, on their way to the championship.

Head coach of the Lakers, Brett Harrison, said it’s been something special to see what the team has been able to achieve already in getting to this point.

“It’s a pretty big deal for a small town to not only host tier 1, but be able to win it, playing against Weyburn, Estevan and some other big centres,” he said. “So it’s pretty cool for these kids to be able to have this opportunity and to make it to Westerns.”

The Lakers will kick off their Westerns pursuit with their opening game Friday morning against Manitoba. The team is guaranteed at least four games with the chance for more in the playoff rounds.

Lakers’ Cruz Harrison named to Team Sask

In addition to the Westerns appearance this weekend, Cruz Harrison of the U13 Lakers will also be representing Saskatchewan at nationals at the end of the month.

Harrison was the lone member of the Lakers team to be named to Team Saskatchewan for the U13 tournament on the national stage, which will run Aug. 25–29 in Windsor, Ont.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1