Red Sox fall just short of WMBL title
Regina Red Sox general manager Bernie Eiswirth hoped to be holding the WMBL’S championship trophy after Thursday’s deciding game of the league final.
The events, as they played out, weren’t exactly what he had in mind. Eiswirth was entrusted with the duty of presenting the trophy to the Medicine Hat Mavericks after they defeated the Red Sox 8-2 at Athletic Park.
“Our (league) president is in New York,” Eiswirth said of Kevin Kvame. “I’m the vice-president of the league, so it was just a coincidence.
“I said a few things about what a great crowd it was and what great baseball it was. Both those teams played 14 playoff games to get to where they were. It’s quite a feat when you think about it.”
Medicine Hat posted the league’s best regular-season record (38-9) and won the Western Division title.
Regina had a 26-21 slate, good for third in the Eastern Division, before eliminating the defending-champion Swift Current 57’s (28-20) and the Weyburn Beavers (37-11).
The Red Sox then lost the first two games of the league final, both in Medicine Hat, before winning twice in a row at Currie Field to force Thursday’s winner-take-all game.
“We’re happy with the way the playoff run went, for sure,” Eiswirth said.
“We peaked at the right time. Starting the playoffs, we started playing really good baseball.”
Along the way, they set a franchise single-season attendance record.
“The people of Regina really enjoyed the baseball,” said Eiswirth.