In a strange twist of fate, the Sawridge Jr. ‘AAA’ Heat are going on to the Western Canadian Championships, despite losing in the semi-finals at the provincials.
The Heat thought their season was over when they dropped a 4 – 2 decision to a Southeast Edmonton team (SEEBA) on Aug. 3. But a day later, the SEEBA coach was on the phone offering his team’s place in the Western Canadians to the Heat.
SEEBA had actually lost to St. Albert in the final. The winner qualifies for next year’s national championships, and the loser goes to the westerns.
With SEEBA bowing out, the Heat will represent Alberta at the Aug. 15 – 17 tournament in Ft. Saskatchewan.
Unfortunately, the news came too late to keep all the Heat players in town. J.P. Mailhot, the talented Quebec pitcher is already gone, as are one or two others. But Manager Hugh McEvoy has a solution.
“We’re going to take (the) eight or nine players we’ve got and take some from Parkland (White Sox).”
The eight players from this year’s Heat team McEvoy is counting on are Murray Cronk, Brad Sinclair, Brent Blachford, Blair Sinclair, Bryan McEvoy, Josh Gryschuk, Jeff Lindmark and Tyler Matier, the late-season addition from Grande Prairie.
Coach Kevin Bohnert will not be able to stay for the tournament, due to commitments back home in Missouri.
“He did a fantastic job,” says McEvoy.
The Heat’s last game at provincials was a close one and a good one. Both teams played well, with SEEBA having the advantage in just one inning.
“That was probably the best game I watched all year,” says McEvoy. “In one inning they got three runs on us. It was just a lapse.”
SEEBA apparently saved their best pitcher for the final against St. Albert, but lost anyway 9 – 1.

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