by PAUL RAYNER

In a series with a few improbable events already, it might not be too surprising that the South West Baseball League Finals, set for five games, would go to six.

The Boissevain Centennials went into Game 5 in Wawanesa on August 27 needing a win or a tie to capture the league championship. What they ran into was Brewers starter Curtis Seafoot, who tossed a 2-0 shutout, spoiling another fine start by Cents left-handed veteran Junior Brake.

“It was kind of a ho-hum game,” said Boissevain coach Jason Billaney the morning after. “They got two runs in the first inning, we made some mistakes and they got a clutch hit and scored a couple of runs. Both of us scattered a few hits, but there was nothing much. Both pitchers were right on.”

A sixth game is set for Boissevain on Sunday, August 31 at 2:00 pm.

The finals got their start in Wawanesa on August 19. The first place and defending champion Brewers jumped out to a convincing 9-4 win over the Centennials, who had finished third in the regular season and advanced by knocking off the Deloraine Royals and Souris Cardinals in previous rounds. Derek McGregor of Wawanesa got the win, pitching a complete game with seven strikeouts, and Mitch Fry driving in a pair of runs with a double and Lindsay Gullet picked up a pair of two baggers. Dustin Pugh took the loss for Boissevain, with Ryan Albrecht doubling and singling twice, and Derek Kempthorne driving in a pair of runs.

The next night, the scene shifted to Boissevain, and the Cents came back behind Junior Brake, who struck out 12 in nine innings of a 4-2 win. Again, Kempthorne drove in a pair, while AJ Armstrong had a pair of hits including a triple. Chris Olbach took the loss for the Brewers, with Mark McGregor socking a solo home run.

It seemed like a fairly normal series until Game 3. First, it was rained out on the original date of Friday, August 22 and moved to the following Saturday. The runs came that game, and it ended up being tied 7-7 and being called for darkness. It changed the way the series would be played, as instead of it simply being a best of five final, it became a race to six points. With two points for a win and one for a tie, the two squads were tied three points apiece.

Although somewhat disappointed by that outcome, Billaney said they came away from the odd result with a positive attitude.

“Looking back on it now,” Billaney said earlier in the week, “it would have been nice to win the game in Wawanesa. But we won Game 2 here, and tied over there. We came back from a few runs to tie. We were down, but we kept chipping away on it. You could tell it wasn’t over.”

It took ten innings to get to that result. Boissevain got a 3 for 5 night out of Chris Unrau with a RBI, with Carey Findlay going 2 for 5 with a RBI and Ryan Albrecht driving in a pair. Derek McGregor led the Brewers with a three run homer.

The comebacks continued the next night back in Boissevain. The game was not decided until the bottom of the ninth, where the Cents scored two runs, including the winner on a Josh Dueck sacrifice fly to win 6-5 and take a 5-3 lead in points. The runs were needed as the Brewers had taken a 5-4 lead in the top of the last inning. Carey Finlay won the complete game for Boissevain, while Shaun Corey lost in relief for Wawanesa. Ryan Albrecht had three singles and two RBI, while Corey Billaney had two hits and a run batted in. Derek McGregor, Dane Seafoot and Mark Plett each had a pair of hits for Wawanesa.

Although the comebacks came in the finals, Billaney said it started in the semis. It took five games to take out the Cardinals, a team, like Wawanesa, that gave the Cents fits all summer. After being beaten 12-5 in the series opener on July 25, it did not look great, but after Brake struck out 13 in a 5-1 win in the second game two nights later, the comeback kids came into play in the third game, July 29, where they rallied for a 7-5 win striking for five runs in the top of the ninth.

“That Souris series really got us going. The first game we were embarrassed. We came home and won and then stole one there. Then we got confidence.”

Although Souris won Game 4, 6-3, Brake tossed a 2-0 shutout to take the series in the fifth game.

What has worked for the squad in the playoffs? Although pitching is always a key, Billaney said something that was missing at times in the season showed up when the post season came around.

“We started getting clutch hits,” the coach explained. “It has actually been the difference. All of a sudden it came at once. All year we struggled with that, and then guys started getting hotter.”

The odd series prompted the change in time for Game 6. The matches have been played at night, but the afternoon start makes it harder to get a second tie in the series.

“To be honest, that’s why we made the decision, the main reason. Both teams want to get it done. We both have guys who are going off to school and it starts right away.”

With some time to rest arms, Billaney feels his pitchers should be ready to go, and has yet to name a starter for Sunday’s game, saying he will give it a couple of days thought before making a decision. Although disappointed that they were not able to clinch the league title on Wednesday night, it was just one of those games.

“You have to tip your hat to both of the pitchers. It was good ballgame, and it was obvious someone was going to win 1-0 or 2-0.”

He was confident about the deciding game, saying that Wawanesa has yet to beat them at home in the playoffs, and the Cents play well at home in front of the great fan support.

“Never once in the dugout do the guys hang their heads,” Billaney stated. “We had two games where we came back here, and then the one against Souris. We’re playing well and we’re in it in inning nine.”