Carillon Sultans glide past Altona into MJBL semi-finals
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This article was published 18/07/2024 (210 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Author’s note: This story was written for the July 18 edition of The Carillon, with press time before game one of the MJBL’s semi-final series.
The Carillon Sultans were able to avoid any drama in the quarterfinals of the Manitoba Junior Baseball League (MJBL) playoffs, surviving a game two late-inning scare to advance with consecutive victories over the Altona Bisons.
The Sultans finished first in the league standings, and looked the much better team in game one, racking up an impressive 13-2 victory in Altona July 12. The game was stopped after five innings as the Sultans held a 10-run lead.

Quarterfinals in the MJBL are only three games, so a Sunday afternoon double-header was on the schedule, with the second game only played if needed.
Carillon was able to jump out to an early lead, plating four runs in the bottom of the first, and it looked like another rout was on. The Bisons battled back, pulling to within one run in the top of the fourth, only for Carillon to notch three more runs in the bottom of the inning to keep their lead.
The big inning was beneficial in more ways than just on the scoreboard, as the Sultans knew Altona starter Maddox Mateychuk would be hoping to pitch a complete game to keep his team’s season alive by preserving pitchers for a potential game three.
Mateychuk is from Dominion city, and game two represented his last game as a junior player, as he graduated college this season.
“To sit back and make (Mateychuk) earn it and get him a little frustrated and hopefully not as focused as he is when he’s dialed in is huge for us,” head coach Rick Penner said.
“It gives our guys a bit of confidence too, that we’re working him deep and putting pressure on him every at bat.”

Cedric Lagasse pitched a complete game for Carillon, giving up 13 hits, but only allowing two earned runs. Twice he was able to get the Sultans out of a bases loaded jam, and a key outfield assist to home plate prevented a Altona run.
“We knew they’d come after us again today and we’d have a battle,” Penner said.
“(Lagasse) pitched well, but they kept finding gaps and holes and we just couldn’t really have quick innings.”
The game’s go-ahead run even stepped up to the plate in the top of the seventh inning, but the Bisons player grounded out to Lagasse.
Penner said he was hoping Lagasse would have had an even better game, or that the offensive runs would come pouring in to keep his starter’s arm available for two games in the semis. Because of his high pitch count, Lagasse won’t be available to pitch again until game three of the semis.
The Sultans weren’t messing around on the base-paths in game two, swiping seven bags over their six innings. They had six less hits than the Bisons, but were still able to plate three more runs.

The semi-finals are a best-of-five series, with Carillon facing St James. Game one of the series was played after press time July 17. Game four and five, if necessary, are scheduled as a double-header July 21 in Steinbach at A.D. Penner Park.
St James finished tied for third in the regular season standings, with the Sultans defeating them all three times they faced this year, although two of those games were in May. The other semi-final will see Elmwood and Interlake face off.
The Sultans should be able to draw upon the region’s U18 AAA team for pitching help, as provincials do not start until July 26.