SRSS win Zone 13 baseball banner in dramatic fashion

Since the 2018 season, the Steinbach Regional Secondary School Sabres have dominated the Zone 13 baseball diamonds. The Sabres have yet to lose a game in either the league or the championship tournament, en route to banner win after banner win.

The team got their toughest test in years this season, but managed to overcome the Saint-Joachim Braves to win the final 6-5, thanks to a walk-off single from Grade 9 student Kyler Verestiuk.

“Every year is exciting but when you win in walk-off fashion, it’s obviously a little different,” Brandt said.

“That was a fun moment.”

The rest of the scoring took place in the third inning, where a grand slam in the top half of the inning powered the Braves out to a 5-0 lead.

Undeterred, the Sabres bounced back with a five-run inning of their own, thanks in part back-to-back solo shots from Ryker Wiens and Max Bergen.

“It was an immediate response to facing adversity, which was really good to see,” Brandt said.

The game was scoreless after that until the bottom of the seventh, when some nice small-ball plays, including a fake bunt to open up a path to steal third, loaded the bases for Verestiuk to convert with a single to win the game.

The Sabres are battle-tested, despite a lack of practice time this season, winning a tournament earlier this season in Altona.

Brandt said they trailed in three of the four games at the tournament.

“I really like the group that we’re heading to Selkirk with,” Brandt said.

The Sabres came up short in the provincial final last year, losing to Garden City. Brandt said Steinbach will need some quality pitching from their depth players early in the tournament to find success.

“We played well, but we can play better,” he said.

Provincials are set for Selkirk June 5-6.

SOCCER

The baseball team won’t be the only SRSS team in action that weekend, as the Steinbach Soccer Park will be hosting the AAAA soccer provincials this season.

The boys and girls teams played in inter-zone playoffs to see if their seeding will be as hosts or as a zone winner May 27 after press time. The Sabres boys team lost in the final in 2025.

“I would say that our boys are strong, should be a mid-tournament draw ranking at least and should sow well at the provincials,” SRSS boys soccer coach and athletic director Steve Rebizant said.

“With respect to our girls, I feel they will be challenged at provincials but our coaches are bringing them along and they have improved throughout their training sessions.”

Steinbach has become a regular in hosting provincials, as one of the only venues in the province that can boast so many quality natural grass fields.

“The City of Steinbach always keeps it in prime shape,” Rebizant said, noting he gets feedback from opposition coaches on how great the facilities are.

“We’re so lucky to have it., They work hard to keep it looking great. We’re so fortunate.”

The boys final is set for June 6 at 12:15 and the girls final gets underway at 2 p.m.