The Expos earned the title at the provincial finals tournament held in Moosomin Friday through Sunday.
“It was nice to go out on a high,” said Expos head coach Wes Jaeb, who added it was especially gratifying for five players who graduate out of the division.
The AA Expos also won the title in their first year of play, noted Jaeb.
The Expos finished pool play with a 2-1 record and were seeded second for the playoff round facing the Sask 5 Giants out of Martensville/Warman in the semi-finals.
Thanks largely to a complete game pitching performance by Shae Peterson, and a six run fifth inning the Expos would emerge with a 9-1 win.
Jaeb noted Peterson “had been very consistent for us all year,” adding he had planned on him tossing the semi-final game, where “he exceeded my expectations.”
That set up a final against the Moose Jaw Canucks, who had beaten the Expos 7-1 in pool play (see below).
In the final it was a different outcome with the Expos winning 11-7.
“Our bats came alive. We hit the ball well,” said Jaeb, who added “. . . Our defence was very solid (too).”
Kolby Lauer was the winning pitcher for the Expos in the final.
The Expos started action Friday in pool play with an 11-9 win over Lumsden in their opening contest.
“It was a good back and forth game for the first game of the tournament ... The kids played fairly well. It got the nerves out of the way,” said Jaeb.
The Expos then played the Moose Jaw Canucks, losing 7-1.
“Moose Jaw put five up on us early,” said Jaeb, adding the Parkland bats just did not get going in the game.
In game three the Moosomin Rangers were the opponents.
“We got up big early. It was 11-3 after the third inning,” said Jaeb.
But the Rangers battled back and forced the game to an extra inning where the Expos managed a 13-12 win.
The Expos had 14 players on their roster from across the region including the communities of Yorkton, Saltcoats, Langenburg, Canora, Invermay and Sturgis.
