SPORTS FLASHBACK 1984: Saints defeat Sultans in all-Hanover final

The Ste Anne Saints came back from a five-run deficit to edge the Friedensfeld Sultans 6-5 in the final game of 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.

Friedensfeld appeared to be on their way to a victory and another 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 a run and then loaded up the bases with one out. A single 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 hit to a triple.

The Sultans threatened to score in the sixth, when they loaded the bases with one out, but a force at the plate and a pop up to the short stop ended the rally.

Both Friedensfeld and Ste Anne reached the playoff round by the runs-for-and-against formula, with the Saints still needing a tie-breaking game to get out of their group.

In round-robin play, Friedensfeld posted victories over E.K. Stones, 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. Their only loss in round-robin play was by a 6-5 count to Legion 98 from Parkland.