Stotler has ‘blast’ on and off the field with the Red Sox
Brooks Stotler refers to his time with the Regina Red Sox as “a blast.”
There have been several blasts, in fact, as Stotler has enjoyed a home-run-hitting tear during the Western Major Baseball League playoffs.
Leading up to Thursday’s winner-take-all Game 5 of the WMBL championship series, Stotler had five home runs in 13 games, having had 47 at-bats over that span.
During the regular season, Stotler homered twice in 33 games, over 111 at-bats. He drove in 14 runs during the regular season before erupting for 10 RBI in the playoffs. What triggered the power surge? “I don’t even know,” Stotler said with a smile. “I just got hot.”
As did the Red Sox during the WMBL playoffs, following an unexceptional regular season.
Regina placed third in the Eastern Division with a 26-21 record, and faced manpower shortages entering the playoffs.
Undaunted, the Mitch Macdonald-coached Red Sox eliminated the defending champion Swift Current 57’s (28-20) and the Eastern Division-pennant-winning Weyburn Beavers (37-11) en route to meeting Medicine Hat in the final. Medicine Hat went 38-9 to win the Western Division and post the league’s best record.
Stotler, like his team, played his best at the most important time.
“It was just, ‘Don’t let the Sox get hot,’ " Stotler said with a chuckle. “We’re getting hot at the right time and getting key hits from key guys.”
Stotler, who lives in San Diego, Calif., is about to return to Long Beach State University to resume college after spending an enjoyable summer in Saskatchewan — a region that was totally foreign to him until he joined the Red Sox.
I’ve got to thank Mitch and all the coaches and everyone here for making it a great experience.
“No, I’d never heard of it,” he said before listing the differences between Saskatchewan and California. “No palm trees. It’s really flat everywhere. There’s a lot of farmland. That’s the biggest difference for me.”
Stotler has also been a difference-maker in centre field, making a number of impressive catches — including one on Wednesday, as the Red Sox won 9-5 to force a fifth and deciding game.
“It has been a great opportunity,” Stotler said. “I’ve got to thank Mitch and all the coaches and everyone here for making it a great experience. It has been really fun.”