WCBL playoffs kick off with upset, blowout and rainout on display

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on August 8, 2025.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Western Canadian Baseball League Playoffs got underway Wednesday with different results on tap.

Sylvan Lake vs. Lethbridge

Only one of the four series was unable to get started as rain in Sylvan Lake postponed Game 1 between the Gulls and the Lethbridge Bulls.

They will face a modified schedule, with Game 1 rescheduled for Thursday in Lethbridge before the series turns back to a hopefully, much drier Sylvan Lake for Game 2 on Friday and if needed, a Game 3 on Saturday.

Okotoks vs. Brooks

The Okotoks Dawgs were the only higher seed to open their series with a win.

The West division’s No. 1 team downed the Brooks Bombers 11-4 in Game 1. Okotoks scored four runs in the second inning and added on seven more across the last five innings for the series lead. Dawgs’ pitchers held Brooks scoreless until the fifth inning.

Connor Crowson had a grand slam in the second inning to propel the Dawgs’ victory.

Game 2 of the series was Thursday in Brooks and, if needed, Game 3 is back at Okotoks.

East Division

The East division matchups were full of upsets through Game 1, with the Medicine Hat Mavericks falling 6-2 at home to the Regina Red Sox and the Saskatoon Berries losing 6-4 to the Moose Jaw Miller Express.

Saskatoon vs. Moose Jaw

The WCBL’s top team allowed five runs in the first three innings and couldn’t claw back to beat the visiting Millers, who upset the record-setting Berries.

Starter Westin Wells threw 6.1 innings allowing four runs (one earned), striking out four as the Millers out-hit Saskatoon 14-9. Four-time all-star Austin Gurney led the Millers with three hits and two RBIs in Moose Jaw’s win.

The Berries look to get back in the series Thursday in Game 2 at Moose Jaw and hope to force a Game 3 Friday back in Saskatoon.