The season was not supposed to end this way. Sure, the so-called experts figured this season’s Innisfail Indians were a baseball team with loads of promise, great young talent but a squad reconciled to a rebuilding year. Most folks would have been happy if their hometown heroes finished the season with just a respectable finish.
However, the Tribe had different ideas last weekend at the Parkland Baseball League championship tournament at Red Deer’s Great Chief Park. The Indians, who finished the regular season with a so-so record of seven wins and 10 losses in the South Division, played their best trio of games of the year. All three of their starting pitchers went the distance. The Indians had timely hitting in all three games. They played with consistent discipline, poise and desire.
And the reward is that they are back at home this week preparing for the upcoming best of three final series against the powerhouse Rocky Red Dogs. The Indians are not just priming to just compete anymore. They are now aiming to reclaim the league title, which they last won in 2009. The dates and times of the final series will be announced this week.
“I’m ecstatic. We had our ups and down all year but we picked a great time to put it all together,” said Indians co-manager Steve Bouteiller, who was the hero in the semi-final game against Red Deer.
The Indians weekend started with an offensive burst against the Eckville Angels, a squad finishing last in the North Division with a record of three wins and 14 losses. The Tribe not only proved they could hit but could do so when it counted. Led by Steve Reaman, who went three for five with two runs batted in at the plate, the Indians powered their way to an easy 13 – 9 win. Jesse Scheunert pitched a complete game for the Tribe, striking out 11 and scattering nine hits.
Next up was the Beiseker Canadians; the regular season champs of the league’s South Division. The game was scoreless after three but the Indians blew the game apart in the top of the fourth with four runs on two hits. Meanwhile, Indians hurler Jay Kirkham, after giving up back to back hits to open the game, was stingy the rest of the way. He went the distance and gave up a total of four hits while striking out five.
The semi-final game against the defending league champion Red Deer Goliath Razorbacks started badly for the Tribe. In the bottom of the first Indians hurler Kyle Burkitt began by walking the first two batters and it cost him. The Razorbacks then scored two runs on a wild throw and a sacrifice fly. They added another on a double and a single. Red Deer was quickly ahead 3 – 0.
But the Indians exploded in the top of the fourth. Riley Wik led off with a double and Jay Kirkham singled. The Tribe scored their first run on a fielder’s choice. And then with one out and two men on base up to the plate came Steve Bouteiller. With the count full Razorbacks southpaw Tom Rodzinyak through a fastball and Bouteiller launched it over the fence in left field. The score was suddenly 4 – 3 and it stayed that way.
Burkitt was magnificent the rest of the game, snuffing out potential rallies in the sixth and seventh innings.
“It was nerves. I just didn’t feel that good,” said Burkitt of his shaky start. “In between the first and second innings I went for a little jog. I had to quit thinking so much. I knew as long as I threw strikes I’d be good.”
The Indians finished the game with four runs on six hits while Red Deer collected their three runs on six hits. Once again, the Tribe got a distance outing from their starter. Burkitt had four strikeouts.
“They are a strong young team. They are dangerous and came out with nothing to lose,” said Don Von Hollen, Red Deer’s DH. “They held the lead and didn’t make any mistakes. They put it together at the right time.”
