INNISFAIL – The 13U AA Tier 1 Innisfail Hawks were recently crowned provincial champions and came home with a silver medal at the 2019 Western Canada Baseball Championships.
The tournament took place in Strathmore, Aug. 16 to 18.
In the gold medal game, the Hawks fell 8 to 5 to the Ladysmith 49ers from British Columbia in a well fought battle, noted Murray Reay, president of Innisfail Minor Ball Association.
"It is a huge accomplishment. It was a good game and it was close," said Reay. "The team they played in the final is the team that beat them in the round robin, so it was a good match-up."
The Hawks played four round robin games and had 3-1 record going into the final at Westerns.
"It's pretty good for those kids and it's good for the Town of Innisfail and our association as well," said Reay. "For our 13U AA (team) it's something for the record books for sure."
Their journey to the 2019 Western Canada Baseball Championships was paved with gold.
The Hawks earned a gold medal and provincial title at Baseball Alberta 13U AA Provincial Championships in St. Albert in early August, after downing the Beaumont Bosox 8 to 3 on Aug. 4.
“It was super exciting,” said Curtis Flewelling, head coach. “We have a really special group of kids that are great teammates for each other, they’re very committed and they’re excellent ball players as well.
“You combine hard work, commitment and skill and that’s why we’ve had a very successful year,” he added. “Behind those kids is a group of parents that were equally as committed and supporting.”
Despite some tough competition in the tournament, the Hawks were undefeated through three round robin games, the semifinal and the final to take the provincial title.
It was not, however, an easy feat.
“It was a pitcher’s duel up until the fifth inning. The score was only 1 to 1 at that point,” said Flewelling. “Both teams were playing extremely strong and it was a nail-biter all the way through.”
Late in the gold medal game, Innisfail got a break in the sixth inning and took the lead.
“We had an 8 to 1 lead. The score was definitely not indicative of the game,” he said. “Beaumont, who is also an excellent team, didn’t lay down and die. They had us in a little bit of trouble and scored a couple of runs in our last inning but we were able to lock it down for the 8-3 win.
“The score was not an accurate indication of how tense and exciting the game was,” he said, adding the gold medal required a full effort from everyone.
“Like all of our victories on the weekend, it was truly a team victory,” said Flewelling.
Reay said the 13U AA Hawks had a great regular season and playoff run.
“They had a great year. I think they only lost one regular season game all year (to Stettler),” said Reay. “They’re a great bunch of kids, they worked really hard and they pulled off a (provincial) championship with a great win."
Heading into Westerns, Flewelling said his team was ready for the challenge.
“I think we just (have to) remind ourselves that we are a good team. We can control what we can control, and that is to play hard, be sharp and do all the things that have made us successful so far,” said Flewelling. “If we do that and try our best that’s all we can do.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Flewelling concluded.
