Regina Red Sox back in championship series

It has taken three years to find their way back into the championship, but the Regina Red Sox are once again battling for the Western Major Baseball League’s (WMBL) top prize.

The Red Sox are in the midst of their championship series against the Medicine Hat Mavericks. It’s the first time the Red Sox have been in the championship series since 2015.

Team President Gary Brotzel said the team had to overcome a little bit of adversity to begin their playoff run.

“We had a few players leave at the end of the season for some better opportunities so we really had to grind through the first two-rounds with a smaller roster than what we’d like but the boys are playing hard for each other,” Brotzel said.

The WMBL is a collegiate summer league where players from colleges and university in Canada and the U.S. can play during their collegiate off-season. A player can leave to another independent league if they choose to do so.

Brotzel said the Red Sox lost a few good players at the beginning of the year as well, including some who signed on with MLB teams.

The team dropped the first game of the series in Medicine Hat 8-5. Brotzel said it’s not an excuse but it is tough to play on the same day the travelling was done.

“I’m hoping that everybody got a good sleep last night in the hotel room and comes to the park ready.”

The team has no shortage of championship pedigree on the Red Sox, with many players having a history of winning summer championships and a few going deep in the college baseball playoffs.

“So there’s a lot of experience with playing in championships on our roster,” Brotzel said.

The Red Sox last won the title in 2012 when they had defeated the Mavericks in the championship series.

Game 2 of the series goes Monday night before the series shifts to Regina for games three and four.