Catching up with the D-Backs and Midget Astros progress at nationals

The Saskatoon Poly Plus Junior Diamondbacks have a pile of local connections as they continue to battle at the 2015 U21 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship in Napanee, Ont.

The Diamondbacks feature Josh Elliot and Ryan Sokulski from Prince Albert, Justin Boyer from St. Louis and Mathew Pilon from Duck Lake. They’re also coached by a pair of Prince Albertans in Kalen Kovitch and Sean LaHaye.

The D-Backs finished 4-4 in eight group stage games, splitting their Thursday games with a 12-8 win over the Irma Tigers from Alberta in the morning, before dropping a 7-3 game to the Tavistock A’s from Ontario in the afternoon.

They’re the first team in the tournament to complete all eight of their games and are currently waiting for the rest to finish up to see where they’ll stand. They will automatically play in the top six, meaning they’re still in the championship side of the playoffs.