Back row: left to right: Felix Casavant, Asst coach, Brad Casavant- Head Coach, Bob Schrader, Asst coach, Jordan Weatherbee, Asst Coach Front row left to right: Little Man-Luke Kulczychi- Batboy, Luke Trann, Colt Mudry, Kody Kulczychi, Dailyn Amyotte, James Cook, Lachlan Vandall, Pryce Schrader, Beckett Casavant, Mason Burns, Liam Bergen, Tyson Macgillvary, Lane Weatherbee and Kylan Constant.

By Submitted by Felix Casavant

Softball champs

P.A. Astros win new U11 boys provincial softball title

Jun 28, 2022 | 9:03 AM

A new category for softball players under 11-years-old was added to the provincial championships this year. The event was held June 24-26 at Max Power Ball Park in Prime Ministers Park.

Prince Albert Astros had a dream season going undefeated for the entire year and posting an impressive 17 wins during league and exhibition games leading to the Provincial Championships.

There were five teams competing for the U11 Boys Provincial Championships. The teams were two Prince Albert Astros teams, one coached by Brad Casavant and one by Tyler Kuzma. The other teams were Parkland Wildcats, Delisle Diamond Dogs and Saskatoon Junior Selects East.

Their perfect season continued in the provincial round robin games when the Astros posted a 4-win-no-loss record placing the team first after round robin games. The team coached by Casavant posted a 25-2 win over Saskatoon, a 9-2 win over Parkland, a 16-6 win over the other PA team and defeated Delisle 20-0.

In the championship round, Astros posted a 15-4 win over the other PA team to advance to Sunday’s gold medal game. Parkland defeated Delisle to advance to the gold medal game. Astros-coached by Kuzma lost to Delisle in the bronze medal game.

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The gold game was one of the most exciting games all season as Parkland came ready to take on the Astros. The stands were packed at Rotary Field and everyone was cheering their respective teams on. The boys had never played in front of so many people and obviously both teams were nervous but ready to play.

Parkland struck first by scoring in the top of the second inning. They scored another in the top of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead over the Astros. Assistant Coach Bob Schrader gathered the team before they batted in the bottom of the fourth and pumped them up . They started to hit the ball and it was contagious as they put up 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead over Parkland. Parkland replied back in the top of the fifth by scoring the tying run. So, this set the stage for the last two innings of play…now tied 3-3 after five complete innings.

Astros pitching was awesome as Tyson MacGillvary tossed the first three innings and Kylan Constant tossed the next three. Three innings is the maximum number of innings a pitcher can pitch in any given game. With the game tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, Parkland got the first two Astros batters out in order. Beckett Casavant came to the plate and earned a walk with two out. Then Luke Trann came to bat and hit a missile to the outfield. Beckett Casavant was running at full speed rounding second base, then third and scored easily to take a 4-3 lead. Unfortunately Trann was tagged out at home and the 6th inning was now complete.

So Astros went to their bullpen and Pryce Schrader was up for the challenge. Fans were cheering, boys from both teams were cheering….the park was in a frenzy with every pitch that Schrader delivered. He was pitching with control and confidence and retired the first two batters he faced. One more out and Astros would preserve their perfect season and win the gold medal.

Schrader reared back – strike 1 swinging , strike 2 foul ball and then the pitch that all the fans and Astros needed was delivered by the young gun…..a swing and a miss…strike 3! the game was over and Astros won gold. Their perfect season came to a end with an astounding record of 17 wins in league and exhibition games with six victories in the Provincials….an impressive 23-0 season.

Congratulations to the Prince Albert Astros. They will go down in history as the first team to ever win the new U11 Boys Provincial category in 2022.

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