Category: 2025

Cathy Fagnan Honoured as First Female Recipient of the Ken Schultz Award

Every organization has, within its ranks, people who have distinguished themselves for their dedication and hard work in not only promoting the organization but in making sure that certain needs have been looked after.  These people often go about their business without being noticed or acknowledged , yet their contributions help to elevate the game and the League to a new standard of excellence.  This year’s recipient has also set an important milestone in having being named as the NCABL’s first female recipient of the Ken Schultz Memorial Award.  This year also marks the 33rd time that the NCABL has formally recognized an individual as a “pillar of the NCABL” for contributions that have impacted the growth and development of the League over an extended period of time.   Cathy Fagnan dedicated much time to improving the NCABL’s delivery of a strong statistical program which in turn enabled the League to project itself as a more progressive and well organized League. Cathy has served the League over many years, as its lead instructor in the area of baseball statistics and has also served as supervisor over the many official scorers who have graduated from the courses offered by the League.  Cathy has never let the distances between her place of residence and the baseball fields dictate her level of commitment.  Cathy has frequently driven two hours in a single direction to assist with scoring a baseball game without any thought of receiving any compensation.  Cathy’s selflessness and willingness to advance the game of baseball in the NCABL region has earned her the most recent title of “pillar of the NCABL”.

Red Lions Will Resume Their Rivalry With the Twins

The 2025 baseball season will come to a close in the NCABL this week-end when the Red Lions and Twins meet in a best of three series which shall begin in Westlock at Keller Field on Friday night.  Game time has been set for 6:30 PM.  Both clubs emerged from the Western Canada Baseball Championship, held this past week-end, with only one win between them as they faced select squads from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.  The Red Lions who hosted the event should be commended for their hard work and commitment to the game of baseball.  

Admission for all games in the series will be $6/person with children 10 and under admitted free of charge.  The LCFS will be continued on Saturday, August 23, in Spruce Grove.  Game time will be 2:00 PM.  Preceding the game, The Ken Schultz Memorial Award for distinguished service to baseball  in the NCABL playing area will be given out to a worthy recipient.  If necessary, the Series will resume on Sunday at 2:00 PM in Westlock where the two finalists will do battle for the League Championship, thus closing the 58th chapter in the history of the NCABL.

Tobias Outlasts Hillman as Cardinals Squeak by Twins

Mac Hillman threw six solid innings without giving up a run while striking out 10 batters before tiring and being replaced by Logan Cameron.  On the other side of the ledger Forest Tobias was a workhorse for the Cardinals who sputtered offensively early in the game leaving two bases loaded opportunities without scoring a single run.  The Cardinals were on the brink of elimination in the top of the seventh with the Twins leading by a score of 2-0.  It was then that the wheels fell off for the Twins as Cameron struggled with his control allowing several walks while the Twins defence committed an error which opened the floodgates.  Six runs had scored before the Twins had retired the side.  With a comfortable lead going into the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals could almost sense the victory, but the Twins would have no part of it. The Twins dug in and with their momentum building as a result of a poorly handled ball at second base which led to an error , the Twins capitalized and rallied to close the gap in the score to only one run. Tobias dug deep to record his inning ending seventh strikeout closing the door on the Twins and forcing a third and deciding game in the Series.

Final score:  Cardinals       6          Twins        5

Fierce Hail Storm Halts Series B Final at Keller Field

The third and deciding game between the Cardinals and Twins was abruptly suspended  on Sunday afternoon in the bottom of the second inning when mother nature unleashed a deluge of rain and hail which completely blanketed the field before the hosts could even pull out a single tarp.  Commissioner Riopel ruled that game three of the Series would be continued from the point of suspension at Legion Field in St. Albert on Monday evening.  Game time will be 8:15 pm.  Should that game also be rained out, the Series would resume on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.  This website will be updated by 6:00 PM on Monday should the Series be pushed to Tuesday.

Primeaus Push Hard Before Bowing Out to the Red Lions

The Red Lions pulled steadily ahead of the Primeaus in Game 1 of Series A to earn a 6-1 victory.  In a tightly contested game #2, the Primeaus stood tall and led going into the sixth inning before allowing the Red Lions to edge them out by a 4-3 score in the top of the seventh.  The Primeaus could not score a runner on third with two out in the bottom of the seventh to tie the ball game and to send it into extra innings.  But the Primeaus gave notice that they were ready to do battle and left the field today knowing that they would be back for more post season play.

The Parkland Twins took the first game of Series B against the St. Albert Cardinals by a score of 5-1.  Kyle Prather registered the win on the hill for the Twins as they suffocated the Cardinals in the late innings by adding several insurance runs.  That series will resume on Sunday, August 10th, with the first pitch in game #2 being thrown at 1:00 PM.  If a third game is necessary in the best of three series, it would be played at 4:00PM.

N.C.A.B.L. Semi-Final Series A & B Begin on Saturday

Keller Field will once again welcome the four finalists who will be battling to earn the Championship Trophy.  Three games are scheduled for Saturday with the Red Lions pitted against the Primeaus from Legal at 10:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM, while the St. Albert Cardinals and Parkland Twins will do battle at 1:00 PM.  Both Series will continue on Sunday with times to be determined following the conclusion of play on Saturday.  A sweep by either club in Series A would push the start time for the first Sunday game to 1:00 PM.  An on-field award ceremony will be conducted just prior to the four o’clock game. The Red Lions will be presented with the Servus Cup for having dominated the regular season, while individual awards will be handed out to the Manager of the Year, Most Promising Junior Player, and Most Valuable Player during regular season play. Consult the League’s website after 10:00 PM on Saturday for all results and Sunday’s schedule.  Admission will be $6/day for everyone over the age of ten; children 10 and under will be admitted free of charge.