WCBL postseason arrives, action starts tonight

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on August 6, 2025.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Western Canadian Baseball League playoffs get underway tonight with eight teams vying for the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy.

West Division

Okotoks vs. Brooks

The Okotoks Dawgs enter the playoffs looking for a fourth straight championships win, they lead the WCBL with eight title seasons. The Dawgs (40-16), top seed in the West division, will face the No. 4 seed Brooks Bombers (22-34).

Okotoks won eight of the 10 meetings between the two clubs, both of Brooks’ wins came in one-run games. The Dawgs were the third highest scoring team this season with 436 runs scored, finishing second in home runs (56). Brooks was right behind Okotoks in home runs (56) but ranked eighth in runs scored (343).

Bombers’ pitchers worked to the fourth highest ERA (6.94), surrendering the most home runs (73). Dawgs’ pitchers worked to an efficient 4.07 ERA, the third lowest. The two teams also flourished on the base paths, with Okotoks stealing the second most bases (140) and Brooks third (126).

Sylvan Lake vs. Lethbridge

The West Division’s other matchup features two 30-win clubs with the No. 2 seed Sylvan Lake Gulls (36-20) and the No. 3 seed Lethbridge Bulls (33-22). The two teams split the season series 4-4, with two of the Gulls’ wins coming via shutout.

Both teams finished middle of the pack in runs scored (Lethbridge 362, Sylvan Lake 348), and the Bulls hit the fourth most home runs (51). Sylvan Lake pitchers had the second lowest ERA (3.76) with the second lowest batting average against (.236).

Lethbridge pitcher Levi Abbott leads the WCBL in ERA (1.39), third in strikeouts (69) and is tied for first in wins with seven, recording two complete games in his eight starts this summer. Bulls outfielder Bernie Socarras led the league in batting average (.405).

Sylvan Lake infielder Jaden Flores was fourth in the league in stolen bases (24).

East Division

Saskatoon vs. Moose Jaw

The Saskatoon Berries (46-9) set records in their second season in the WCBL and get set to face the one team who gave them the most trouble. The Berries, who broke the league record for single season wins, face the fourth seed Moose Jaw Miller Express (27-29). The two teams met eight times, with Moose Jaw winning one game but four of the meetings were decided by two or fewer runs.

As a team, the Berries led the WCBL in runs (495), hits (635), home runs (67), RBIs (415) and average (.318). They were no slouch on the other side of the ball, with the lowest ERA (3.66), had the lowest batting average against (.236), surrendering the second fewest home runs (29).

Moose Jaw had the second highest batting average against (.311) and ERA (7.62). Their offence led the team, sitting second in runs (459), third in hits (598) and RBIs (397). Moose Jaw was the second best fielding team (.968).

Millers’ outfielder William Edwards led the WCBL in hits (86) and RBIs (66), fourth year Miller Austin Gurney was second in RBIs with 61, finishing third in hits (82). Moose Jaw starter Westin Wells led the WCBL in strikeouts (89) and innings pitched (72.1).

Saskatoon had a pair of sluggers (Ethan Menard, Cory Wouters) finish tied with 12 home runs, second in the league. Two Berries hurlers finished in the top five of pitchers in wins, Matt Whitney tied for first (seven) and Merek Yeager fifth (five).

Medicine Hat vs. Regina

For the third time in four seasons the Medicine Hat Mavericks (34-21) and Regina Red Sox (29-27) will meet in the WCBL playoffs.

The two teams split the season series 4-4, the Mavs won the last three meetings after Regina held a 4-1 lead on the series. Medicine Hat won the two previous playoff meetings, beating the Red Sox in two games in both 2022 and 2023.

Both teams finished top five in hits (MH 607, REG 592), runs scored (MH 431, REG 416) and RBIs (MH 367, REG 352). Regina’s team ERA was fourth lowest (4.97), propelled by already departed starters Blake Johnson and Colton Andersen. Regina outfielder Matthew Fox finished tied for sixth in RBIs with 47.

Medicine Hat’s ERA was seventh (5.82). Mavs’ starter Xander Roberts finished his season with the third lowest ERA (3.60), tied for second in wins (six). Righty Luis Diaz worked the third most innings (61.1) with a 3.67 ERA and 53 strikeouts.

Medicine Hat infielder Carter Roth was all around the offensive leaderboards, sixth in average (.379), second in hits (85) and third in RBIs (55).

The first round of the WCBL playoffs gets underway tonight with Game 1 of all four series, Game 2 goes Thursday. Game 3s, if needed, would be Friday with an off day Saturday before the second round is slated to start on Sunday.

The WCBL finals are projected to begin Aug. 14.

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