Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader

The Western Canada Championships for 18U ‘AAA’ baseball took place in Red Deer Aug. 15 – 18. Participating were Slave Lakers William Chemago and Matthew LaFrance, for the Grande Prairie Northern Lights. The Lights ended up losing 9 – 8 in extra innings to the Saskatoon Cubs, thereby winning the silver medal.

Five teams played in the tournament – one rep from each of the four western provinces, plus host Red Deer Braves.

Grande Prairie’s first opponent was the host, and they dispatched the Braves 13 – 1. Chemago played third base and LaFrance shortstop. They each got one hit in the game.

Game 2 was against Saskatoon, with the Cubs coming out on top 4 – 3. Chemago went one for three and scored a run; LaFrance was zero for two at the plate and also scored a run.

Against the North Winnipeg Pirates, Grande Prairie scored four runs on just four hits to win 4 – 1. The final round robin game was against the North Delta Blue Jays, the B.C. champion, with a berth in the final on the line. GP squeaked out a 3 – 2 victory, on only three hits.

“Very strong pitching,” says Harry Bartlett, who watched every game of the tournament.

LaFrance started the game on the mound for the Northern Lights, going four innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.

In the final, GP had led 4 – 0 and 5 – 1, but couldn’t keep the Cubs off the board. Tied 7 – 7 after seven, the game ended when Saskatoon score two in the bottom of the eighth.

“Gut-wrenching,” says Bartlett.

On the other hand, silver at Westerns is a good accomplishment for a team that was struggling so much at the beginning of the season.