North Central Alberta Baseball League

Brand Rises to the Challenge

Normally positioned in the infield and not as frequently on the mound, Jordan Brand knew that he would be called upon to produce and to be a key to any Red Lion victory in the post season. The third place Red Lions were tasked with having to defeat the reigning League Champion Cardinals in the LCSFS followed by a wildly unlikely upset of the Pennant Champion Twins in the LCFS. Rarely does such a daunting task result in the slaying of two formidable foes. But with the Championship in their sights, the Red Lions accomplished just that.

The first Series B semi-final game saw former League MVP McLean-Poll of the Cardinals face the young rising star Corson Hanlan from the Red Lions. Although McLean-Poll threw well allowing only two earned runs en route to a 5-0 shut out loss, the Cardinals could not come up with any timely hits when they needed them. Instead, the Cardinals were unable to produce any runs on their five hits. McLean-Poll amassed 9 strike outs to Hanlan’s 5 in game one, but Hanlan prevailed by mixing his pitches well and limiting Cardinal scoring opportunities. In the meantime, Jordan Brand was resting and on the bench. He was not called upon to pick up his infield glove and jog to his usual position at second base or shortstop. The Red Lions had just blanked the Cardinals by a score of 5 – 0 to lead the Series one game to none.

Brand waited for his chance to deliver a solid pitching performance in game two of the LCSFS. Brand threw seven complete innings allowing only three runs on five hits while walking two batters and striking out four. The duo of Dryburgh (losing pitcher) and Ayden Cote allowed a hungry Red Lion squad a combined total of seven runs on ten hits as the defending champions were dropped in their tracks. With a sweep over the Cardinals, the Red Lions began to prepare themselves to meet the Pennant Champions.

The best of three LCFS began in Spruce Grove at Henry Singer Park where the Red Lions wasted no time in opening up an early 6 – 0 lead behind the effective pitching of Corson Hanlan. The usually reliable Mac Hillman did not recover from that early surge by the Red Lions and was later replaced by reliever Joe Pasychnyk. The Twins, who had competed for a second year in a row in the Western Canada Senior AA Baseball Championship in British Columbia a week earlier, appeared to be tired and committed a few critical errors which helped to propel the Red Lions to a 13 – 6 victory.

Game two of the LCFS shifted to Keller Field where a large crowd awaited the two rivals in what will most certainly go down in NCABL history as a classic post season contest. Enter Jordan Brand, the veteran manager and experienced utility player, with the baseball in hand on the hill with a chance to eliminate the League’s most dominant club in regular season play. Brand proved to be as crafty as one can be without possessing a blazing fastball nor a vast arsenal of pitches. Brand simply kept the Twins off balance all afternoon limiting them to five hits and frustrating their every effort. Brand picked his corners and mixed his pitches controlling and limiting Twins hitters without striking out a single batter. Jake Moger of the Twins pitched well enough to win allowing only one run on seven hits while walking three batters and striking out three more. This game was played on a bed of pins and needles with both sides gaining then losing momentum. One play, however, could be classified as being one for the ages. In the fifth inning and the Twins at bat and the bases loaded with only one out, a fly ball was hit into right field. With the Red Lions leading 1 -0, runners on 2nd and 3rd saw an opportunity to advance and tagged up ready for the sprint home and possibly also to third. A probable tie game was imminent. The turning point of the game was about to happen sending the majority of the crowd into a frenzy. The centre fielder for the Red Lions came charging into right field, called off the right fielder who was well positioned to make the catch, caught the fly ball and with a twist of his body launched a perfect strike to the catcher who executed a swipe tag to retire the runner from third. A double play 8 to 2 (Chies to Lamb) to end the inning and the threat. When was the last time anyone saw a play like that one even in the majors? The score stood at 1 – 0 in a game which clocked in at 1:31. The Red Lions had accomplished the improbable when they celebrated their 19th championship and their first since the League’s 50th anniversary in 2017. Standing on the hill at that moment was the player of the hour and the League’s choice for the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Series.