Senior Carillon Sultans drop hard-fought semi-final

The Carillon Sultans just barely missed out on a finals appearance in the Winnipeg Senior Baseball League.

The Sultans dropped back-to-back games in narrow fashion after taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semi-final series against Elmwood.

Carillon had great chances to win both games they lost, taking a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second and a 9-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth during game two, only for the Giants to storm back with an an eight-run top of the fifth to clinch a win.

The Sultans also took a lead into extra innings during game three, but a two-out, bases loaded single scored a pair for Elmwood to win the series in walk-off fashion.

“It was a tough loss,” manager Nick Wall said a day after game three.

“It was three great games.”

It was a rough regular season for Carillon, as they went a combined 2-10 against Elmwood and West Winnipeg but Wall said when the Sultans were at full strength they were just as good as those two top teams, who tied for first this season.

“When we had everybody, we felt like we were the better team for the first time we’ve played (Elmwood) in all these years,” Wall said.

“This was the first year where I was like, ‘man, we should have beat these guys.’”

Game two was hosted in A.D. Penner Park Aug. 12. It was the program’s second ever home playoff game and first weekday home playoff game.

Wall was sure to thank Elmwood for making the early start time work. Under league rules, all playoff games should be played on fields with lights, but the Giants made an exception for Carillon so Steinbach could host a playoff game.

“That was the most fans we’ve had at a game,” Wall said.

“It’s such an awesome time being able to actually host in Steinbach. Guys get way more excited for those games. It just proves what could potentially happen if we do get lights.”

Most playoff games in the WSBL need to be played at fields with lights, but Carillon and Elmwood were able to agree on an earlier start time so the game could be hosted at A.D. Penner Park.

The series returned to Elmwood for game three Aug. 17, where the Giants took another narrow win, this time sneaking a 6-5 lead past the Sultans to advance to the final.

Elmwood will play top-seeded West Winnipeg in the final. Both teams finished with an identical 19-4 record in the regular season.

In the B-Pool finals, Springfield made short work of South Winnipeg to win the league, sweeping the best-of-five finals 3-0. The Braves were down 5-2 in the middle of the fifth inning of game one, but stormed back with five runs in the bottom half en route to a 9-5 win.

In game two, Brody Welsh went the distance on the mound for Springfield, striking out six while giving up just a single run in an 8-1 victory, with a 5-0 clinching victory in Winnipeg Aug. 17.

James Walker threw a complete game for the Braves in the win, giving up just five hits and five walks.