Sultans punch ticket to western finals

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This article was published 05/08/2019 (1723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Carillon Sultans have punched their ticket to the Western Canadian 15U ‘AAA’ baseball championships, being held Aug. 15-18 at Lloydminster, Sask, following their strong showing this past weekend at the provincial championships at Optimist Park in Winnipeg.

Although the Sultans lost in the final of the 10-team provincial championship, 13-1 to North Winnipeg, their most important victory came in the semi-finals, as they downed Midwest 9-1. That victory garnered them a berth to the western championships as both the champion and finalist advanced to Lloydminster.

The Sultans finished first in their round robin pool with a 3-1 record, posting shutouts in their first two games, 15-0 over Parkland and then 6-0 over Winnipeg South. Carillon improved to 3-0 with a close 12-9 victory over South Central. In a meaningless game and with the Sultans having already locked up first in their pool, Carillon were beaten 12-0 by Bonivital in the mercy-ruled shortened final round robin game.

Meanwhile, the 13U ‘AAA’ provincial championships were also held at Optimist Park on the weekend and the Carillon Sultans were not able to duplicate the success of their older counterparts.

Finishing with a 2-1 round robin record and in a tie for first in their pool with South Central, the Sultans subsequently lost 12-2 to South Central in a tie-breaker and failed to qualify for the semis.

Carillon had beaten South Central 12-8 in an earlier round robin game, after opening the tournament with a decisive 19-8 triumph over Pembina Hills. The Sultans lost their final round robin game, 8-3 to Bonivital. South Central had earlier edged Bonivital 10-9, which led to the tie-breaker.

Bonivital defeated South Central 24-14 in the final as both teams advance to the 13U National Western Championship, Aug. 15-18 at Cloverdale, B.C.