WMBL Playoffs: Edmonton, Medicine Hat advance

The Edmonton Prpspects celebrate after upsetting the Okotoks Dawgs in the first round of the WMBL playoffs. Photo Credit: Edmonton Prospects

The Edmonton Prospects and Medicine Hat Mavericks advanced to the second round of the WMBL playoffs with wins on Saturday night.

Game 5: Edmonton 3 at Okotoks 1

This was a classic WMBL Game 5 match up. The Edmonton Prospects defeated the Okotoks Dawgs 3-1 to make their way to the Western Division Championship series.

It was the second consecutive year the first-place Dawgs failed to make it to the Western Division Final.

Finnigan Duffield, the lefty freshman from the University of Alberta, threw 4 2/3 innings giving up just one run on two hits in his winning effort. Duffield also walked five and struck out four before handing the ball to Michael Gahan. Gahan earned the save by pitching an impressive 4 1/3 shutout innings.

CJ Lewington, the Calgary, Alta., native got the nod to start for Okotoks. Lewington tossed four complete innings allowing just one run on three hits. He also struck out five of the 15 batters he faced. Tyler Burdett, Anthony Balderas and Kody Funderburk came out of the bullpen in relief.

Anthony Olson led the Edmonton offence with three hits including two doubles and two RBI. Anthony Cusati added two hits and scored two runs for the Prospects.

Ryan Humenuik had two of the three Dawgs hits.

Game 5: Medicine Hat 4 at Lethbridge 1

The Medicine Hat Mavericks punched their ticket to the Western Division Final series with a 4-1 victory over the Lethbridge Bulls in Game 5. The difference in this one came in the second inning when the Mavericks scored all four of their runs.

It was a total team effort on offence for the Mavericks as Medicine Hat got hits from seven different players on the night.

Brett Semeniuk got the lone hit for Lethbridge while Jackson Freed was patient at the plate as he walked twice.

Saskatoon born Jared Libke made his second start of the 2017 playoffs for Medicine Hat. The sophomore from the University Arkansas-Monticello was lights out on the mound throwing eight shutout innings allowing just one Lethbridge hit. He also fanned six Lethbridge batters.

Brady Tedesco, who picked up the Maverick save, gave up a run in the final inning.  

Liam Sabiston, the Lethbridge College freshman took the hill as the Bulls starter. Sabiston hung around for 6 1/3 innings and took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks.  

Hunter Cunningham finished the game throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Western Division Final Series will begin Monday in Medicine Hat.