SPORTS FLASHBACK 1984: Saints defeat Sultans for provincial fastball title

The Ste Anne Saints came back from a five-run deficit to edge the Friedensfeld Sultans 6-5 in an all-Hanover final at the 1984 Manitoba Intermediate ‘A’ Fastball championships in Steinbach.

The Sultans came back up the ‘B’ side of the draw after a 6-4 loss to the Saints in the ‘A’ side final and would have to defeat the Saints twice to win the title.

Friedensfeld appeared to be on their way to a victory and a second chance at the Saints in the A-B final, as they scored a run in the first inning, added one in the second and went ahead 5-0 in the third.

The Saints started their comeback in their half of the third, when they got two runs to trail 5-2 at that point.

Friedensfeld ran into trouble in the fourth inning. Ste Anne scored one run and then loaded up the bases with one out. A hit by Roy Seidler went into right center and by the time the throw came in, all three runners had scored. Seidler was thrown out at third trying to stretch the double to a triple.

The Sultans threatened in their half of the sixth, when they loaded the bases with one out, but a force at the plate and a pop up to the shortstop ended the rally.

Both Friedensfeld and Ste Anne reached the playoff round by the runs-for-and-against formula. Friedensfeld, tied for second in Group A, scored five more runs than they had given up in round-robin play.

The Saints were in a three-way tie in Group B, with four wins and a loss. Because, according to the rules, no team can be eliminated from provincial play with just one loss, the Saints needed a tie-breaking game to get out of their group.

The tournament’s most valuable player, Jacques St Vincent, hit an eighth inning homer in that game to propel the Saints past Legion 98 from Parkland.

In round-robin play, Friedensfeld posted victories over E.K. Stores, the Winnipeg One rep and Cranberry Portage from West Norman. The team lost to Pepsi Free, the Winnipeg Three representative and to Portage Sportstop Clubbers from the Central Region.

The Saints played five games in their six-team round-robin group, finishing with a record of four wins and a loss. The team defeated Molson Brewers (Winnipeg Two), Gimli Wolves (Interlake), Active Muffler (Westman) and the Thompson Brewers representing the East Norman region.

The Saints’ only loss on the weekend came in round-robin play, when they were edged 6-5 by Legion 98 from Parkland. On the way to the provincial championship, Fred Hamm pitched every inning of the nine games Ste Anne played.