UNITY -- After knocking off the Standard Hill Lakers to make it to the North Saskatchewan Baseball League final, the Unity Cardinals found the batting power of the North Battleford Beavers too hard to overcome. The Beavers won the league title in two straight games, 13-3, July 30 on their home diamond, and 9-3 in Unity, Aug. 1.
The Cards and Beavers played to a 13-all tie in their first meeting of the season, way back on May 30. Meeting again in the last game of the regular season, July 6 – in less of a hitting contest – the Beavers won 3-1.
Enroute to the NSRBL final, fourth-place Unity won their series against the Lloydminster Twins in two straight games, and then took on first-place Standard Hill in the semifinal. Losing the first game 9-6, they came back with a 7-2 win at home, followed by a 10-6 victory on the road to clinch the series and advance to the final.
Meanwhile, although it took three games, the third-place Beavers beat Glaslyn Orioles in the first round to take on second-place Meadow Lake Sox in their semis. Peaking at the right time, the Beavers won that series in two straight, to move on to the final to continue their winning streak with another two straight.
Next up for the Cardinals is senior men’s provincials in Gull Lake, Aug. 11, 12 and 13.