Carillon Sultans are back-to-back MJBL champions

Cedric Lagasse is etching his name into Manitoba Junior Baseball League lore.

The Carillon Sultans pitcher was once again magnificent in game four of the 2025 league finals, powering his team to a second consecutive league championship, pitching his second complete game of the finals against Elmwood. Lagasse gave up five hits while striking out four batters as the Sultans won 2-1 at Koskie Field in Winnipeg.

“I just locked in, I did what I had to do, I did my job,” Lagasse said following the celebrations, adding he was approaching the game with a good mindset knowing the Sultans would still have a decisive game five in Steinbach even if he had a poor outing.

Lagasse is a perfect 4-0 as a pitcher in games he’s started for Carillon in the finals, playing shortstop when he’s not on the mound. There was no question Lagasse would be named the league’s playoff MVP for the second consecutive year.

“He’s such a big game pitcher, he’s so clutch,” Penner said.

“Last year, we gave him lots of run support, he kind of had a bit of an edge that way, but this year he pitched in the big games. We faced their ace every time, and they were close games. He just rose to the occasion.”

It was a solid turnaround for the Sultans, who took an early 7-0 lead in a potentially series-clinching game three the day before, only to give up 10 runs in a shocking one-run defeat which extended the series. Penner said the coaching staff tried to focus the team on the fact they were one run away from clinching instead of lingering on a lost championship.

“(Lagasse) just kept us in this one,” Penner said.

“We couldn’t get anything going for a while, we couldn’t get guys on, we couldn’t move guys over and cash them in, but we just kept battling. That’s the mentality of this group of guys. We lost a heartbreaker two years ago and that really taught us how to go through these games.”

Lagasse’s counterpart, Colson Smith, had a solid outing of his own, only running into trouble in the top of the sixth inning. Smith will be joining the Sultans as one of their pick-up players for nationals next week. Brady Papineau got a hit and was able to advance to third after a steal, coming home on a no doubt sacrifice fly RBI from Ryan Powers, who crushed a ball to straightaway centre.

“We never stopped believing,” Penner said.

“We knew we needed one opportunity so guys kept going to the plate with that mentality all game long, just fighting for it.”

An error by Elmwood’s shortstop on a hard ground ball and a hit which bounced off the pitcher’s glove meant the bases were loaded for Carson Janzen to provide the all-important second run of the game. The left fielder crushed a ball along the first base line, with base-runner Michael Lindsay dodging out of the ball’s way to allow it into the outfield and the winning run to cross home plate.

“I’m just lucky it missed the first baseman’s glove by two inches,” Janzen quipped, noting he had been seeing the ball well at the plate throughout the finals.

“I’ve always thrived under pressure. I calm myself down. I’m just happy to be there, I’m blessed to be in that spot and happy to produce.”

There was some drama to be had in the bottom of the seventh, as Elmwood’s lead-off hitter got on base when the ball tipped off an attempted check swing and bounced down the third base line for an infield single.

“The nerves are definitely rushing through me,” Lagasse said, remembering the final inning.

“I trust my team behind me. I throw it in the zone, if they hit it, so be it, and they didn’t. My team made plays and we won the game.”

That trust was earned, as the Sultans infield turned a textbook 6-4-3 double-play to end the game. Second baseman Anders Meilleur was not only at the centre of the game winning play, but was one of the busier players defensively in game four, anchoring a quality performance from the team’s infield. Meilleur said he talked about the potential of ending the game with shortstop Cody Wielgosh before the play happened.

“I’ve been struggling this year, so I wanted to make sure I got everything,” Meilleur said.

“We said we were going to turn a double to win it, and right when it went to (Wielgosh) I knew it was over.”

Janzen said he started celebrating before the ball was caught by Lindsay at first base for the final out of the game.

The Sultans had a spot at the 2025 nationals locked up thanks to winning last year’s championship, but will now represent Manitoba for a second consecutive year. Carillon should bring back an experienced team, with only two graduating players in Tyler Plett and Rylan Penner.