The Moose Jaw Miller Express were trying to stave off elimination in Game 4 of the WMBL East Final against the Regina Red Sox, who lead 2-1.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Express had their chance to do just that and force a series-deciding Game 5.
Despite the packed house of 724 Express fans and the pressure of an elimination playoff game, centrefielder Zack Cadet was poised and focused as he dug into the batter’s box.
He saw a first-pitch fastball from Red Sox reliever Jordan Clark and laced it to right field, driving in Express pinch runner Matt Balogh for the go-ahead run. The final score was 4-3 for the Express because of Cadet’s game-clinching single.
With that, the Express have pushed one of the WMBL’s better teams, the Regina Red Sox to a do-or-die Game 5, which will be played at Currie Field at 7:05 p.m. in Regina.
Judging on the regular season, the Express’ 19-23 record and the Red Sox’s 29-13 season tally, the Red Sox were the big favourites heading into the series and the pressure is on them.
“Obviously the league and Regina feels that we’re the underdogs and now we’ve pushed them to a Game 5 and elimination, so I don’t think there’s a whole lot of pressure on us, it’s all on their side if you ask my opinion,” said Express head coach Michael Hunt. “We’ve obviously handled the pressure pretty well.”
