Sultans push Giants to the brink in MJBL finals

The Carillon Sultans will have a chance to clinch back to back Manitoba Junior Baseball League championships as they host the Elmwood Giants in game three of the league’s championship series at A.D. Penner Park July 29.

The Sultans nabbed wins in game one and two of the series on the backs of a pair of strong pitching performances, with Cedric Lagasse and Connor Martin throwing complete games in 8-4 and 3-0 wins.

Martin had a particularly strong outing in game two, allowing just three hits with 11 strikeouts to put away the Giants at Koskie Field.

“When Connor Martin’s on the mound, we expect that kind of dominance,” Sultans manager Rick Penner said after the game.

Even with Martin dishing from the mound, the game was a scoreless tie until the sixth inning, when an Anders Meilleur swinging bunt would cash in the winning run after a Ryan Powers regular bunt moved runners to second and third.

“It was that kind of grind it out game,” Penner said.

“Late in the game (we) manufactured a few runs, made some things happen, moved some guys over with some clutch hits. That’s all we needed with Martin on the mound.”

The league handed out their annual awards before game two, with Carillon centrefielder Brady Papineau nabbing defensive player of the year. Papineau and catcher Dayton Christensen were named league all-stars as well.

First pitch for game three is set for 6:45 p.m.

“There’s a lot of confidence in our group when we hear that crowd behind us, and we’re looking forward to that tomorrow,” Penner said.