WMBL Division Finals: Edmonton advances, Swift Current ties series

Erik Sabrowski and his Edmonton Prospects teammates have advanced to the WMBL Championship series after eliminating the Medicine Hat Mavericks on Thursday. 

By Tony Playter

WMBL Communications

Game 4: Medicine Hat 4 at Edmonton 8

(Edmonton won the series 3-1)

The Edmonton Prospects moved on to the WMBL Championship series with an 8-4 win over the Medicine Hat Mavericks. Attendance at Re/Max Field for Game 4 was announced at 1,640.

Edmonton won the series 3-1 and return to the League Championship for the second consecutive season. They now await the winner of the Swift Current-Weyburn series, which is tied at 2 games each.  

Scott Gillespie, the Prairie Baseball Academy product, started for Edmonton and went 6 2/3 innings before the Prospects' bullpen took over. Marion McLean was first up and threw 1 2/3 innings for the series-clinching victory. Andrew Mirasty pitched the final two outs of the ballgame.

Saskatoon, Sask., native Jared Libke, made his third start of the playoffs for Medicine Hat and lasted 7 2/3 innings. Edmonton had eight runs and 15 hits against the Arkansas-Monticello sophomore, who suffered the loss.

Maverick teammates David Salgueiro and Chris Rodriguez each had three hits in the contest.

The Edmonton offence was led by the bottom of the batting order as Dean Olson and Derek Shedden each had four hits for the Prospects. Olson also scored three runs.

Game 4: Swift Current 11 at Weyburn 1

(Series tied 2-2)

The Swift Current 57’s scored early and often as they soundly defeated the Weyburn Beavers 11-1. The Eastern Division series is now tied 2-2. The deciding game is set for Friday night in Swift Current.

450 fans were in attendance at Tom Laing Park as Mitch Guiberson earned his second win of the 2017 playoffs for Swift Current. Guiberson was fantastic over eight innings allowing just one Weyburn run on four hits. Trey Taylor finished the game for the 57’s.

Matt Bondarchuk, a freshman at Cloud County Community College, had a huge night at the plate for Swift Current. He finished the night with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.

Brett Esau and Blake Adams also homered for the 57’s.

Starter Conner DiNaro, the left-hander from San Jose, Calif., took the loss for Weyburn. In his 6 2/3 innings of action, DiNaro allowed seven runs on nine hits. He also had four strikeouts. The Beavers' relief squad allowed four runs on five hits.

Offensively Weyburn only had four hits in the game.