The Estevan TS&M Tornados grinded their way into the semifinals before losing 10-5 to the host Swift Current Indians at the provincial peewee AA baseball championship on Sunday.
Estevan had finished 0-2 in round-robin play, but narrowly won their quarter-final game against Muenster to reach the semis.
"We had to really work to get there," said head coach Kent Phillips.
He gave his team credit for not giving up in the Swift Current game despite being down 10-1 entering the sixth and final inning.
"That was the game I was the most proud of the boys," he said.
The Tornados racked up four runs in a two-out rally, including a two-run homer from Kyler Phillips and a solo shot from Ty Brown.
Swift Current lost 6-3 to the Lloydminster Twins in the final.
Estevan edged Muenster 4-3 in the quarters on the strength of an absolute gem from Phillips, who threw a complete game and struck out 10 on only 80 pitches.
The coach said his decisions to pull pitchers early in the round-robin due to pitch count regulations may have cost the team, and he decided to leave his son in when it became clear he was on top of his game.
The Tornados lost their opener 17-9 to the Indians, a game they had led 8-3 when Carter Kuchinka was yanked.
The second game of the round-robin was a tight 10-9 defeat at the hands of North Battleford.
"We played down to their level. We wre definitely a better ball club than they were. We led the whole game," said Phillips.
"That was the only game I was really disappointed in the boys because I knew we should have won that game."
Nate Smart got the start and "was pitching a beauty of a game" before being pulled, according to Phillips.
He said he was happy with the Tornados' season, especially seeing the improvement in a pair of kids who had never played AA ball at the start of the season.
