Pictured left to right: Gavin Nolin (No. 11), Andrew Hudec (No. 9), Kyle Gregoire (No. 28) and Blair Geering (No. 11), pose for a photo at provincials at Beaver Lions Stadium over the weekend. (Submitted photo/Gavin Nolin)

By Martin Martinson

Senior tournament hosts

Beavers reflect on provincials, thank community for strong turnout

Aug 10, 2021 | 2:00 PM

The North Battleford Beavers senior baseball team hosted provincials over the weekend, Aug. 6-8 in the community, making a run to the tournament semifinals.

The Beavers tore out of the gates with a bang, winning their opener 13-10 versus the Standard Hill Lakers, before Mother Nature threw a wrench in the plans for the following game, Friday evening.

Facing the Parkland Pirates at 8 p.m., the game would have to be postponed following the first half-inning due to a lightning delay that lasted just over two hours, only allowing a return to action again at 10:15 p.m.

A competitive game until late, the Beavers would ultimately fall 15-8, bringing their weekend record to an even 1-1.

Player-coaches Gavin Nolin (L) of the Battlefords Trappers and Kyle Gregoire (R) of the North Battleford Beavers were able to join forces with teammates from both clubs on the Beavers’ provincial team. (Submitted photo/Gavin Nolin)

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However, despite not leaving the ball park until close to 1 a.m. the following morning, the Beavers bounced back Saturday evening in a big way, with likely their best performance of the tournament in their third game, defeating the Cabri River Rats 4-0.

“We definitely reset ourselves for Saturday and were really ready for that game,” player-coach of the Beavers, Kyle Gregoire said.

“We came out strong, our pitching from Gavin Nolin was outstanding, and our defence was amazing as well. We were able to get some good at-bats to get a four-run lead and hold off Cabri who had won provincials the last time we hosted, four or five years ago.”

Nolin allowed just four hits in seven innings pitched, to help lead the team to victory.

In the semifinals versus Parkland, the Beavers looked poised to advance to the gold medal game for the second straight year (2019 being the last provincial tournament). Up 6-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pirates though would have other ideas, as the team rallied late to snatch a 7-6 win over North Battleford.

Nolin said while it may have been a disappointing way to end their run, all things considered the community support and opportunity to get back out there for one last weekend of play this summer made for a good weekend.

“We played pretty well most of the weekend, just a couple of hiccups here and there that cost us a couple runs and that ended up the difference,” Nolin said. “But all around, it was a lot of fun and it was nice to get together with the other group of guys. There were people watching the games all weekend, and the fan support was awesome, so it still ended up being a pretty nice weekend.”

With no national tournaments to take place this year, provincials serve as the final stop on the 2021 senior baseball season.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1