On the last day of the regular season, the local senior club swept a doubleheader against Prince Albert to post a 4-4 record. In the playoffs, the Dodgers battled the Tisdale Rangers but fell 2-1 in the best-of-three series. The Rangers advance to take on the Birch Hills Brewers in the first ever Highway 3 finals. What did the team enjoy most about its first season?
“Just getting back on the diamond was the big thing for a lot of us plus everyone just had fun being around the guys playing competitive baseball,” Dodgers player/organizer Carter Tarnowski said.
In the Highway 3 postseason, the Dodgers grabbed a 1-0 series lead with a huge 15-5 victory over the Rangers. Tarnowski and Dawson Atamanchuk each hit a home run in that contest. Jett Marshak pitched a complete game. The Dodgers fell in the next two contests by a combined two runs – losing 7-6 and 11-10.
“It definitely was an exciting series with lots of back-and-forth action,” Tarnowski said. “It was really fun to get a little extra competitive in those last few games. We thought we probably should have won it but that’s just the way it goes.”
With a core of players who grew up competing in minor ball together, Tarnowski said some highlights of the season were getting “a good group of guys together” and the road trips.
Home games were also enjoyable for the Dodgers. Without an appropriate diamond in the city limits, the Humboldt squad hosted opponents in Marysburg. Tarnowski said the team was pleased that the group operating the diamond was willing to lend it to the Dodgers and that it was “always kept in really good shape.”
League co-founder Adam Morrison was pleased with the five-team league’s debut season. Tarnowski noted that there is talk of adding more teams. Morrison praised organizers like Tarnowski, fans, and sponsors for their roles in the Highway 3 Baseball League becoming what it is.
“This league is not the success it is without the great people in all the communities coming together to watch some local senior baseball,” Morrison said. “It’s been such a blessing bringing ball back to all these communities and the fans and sponsors are the one who will drive these teams for a long time.”
