Through the first five innings Tuesday night, it seemed like the Wilkie Brewers couldn't get anything going.
They were getting runners on base and had chances to score, but they weren't able to capitalize on their chances.
That, combined with some costly errors, saw the hosts down by a score of 5-0 to the Border City Blue Jays in the opening game of their North Saskatchewan River Baseball League quarter-final series at the Brewers' diamond.
It was at that point the baseball gods came around on their side as they scored five unanswered runs to tie the game and eventually scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 6-5 victory and a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-three affair.
“It was a little bit frustrating for us early on,” Brewers right fielder Jason Schell said. “We were getting guys on the bases but it seemed like every time we did that we would hit the ball right at their fielders and the inning would come to an end.
“It seemed like we weren't going to get a break and they were able to capitalize on the mistakes that we were making out there. Then in the sixth inning things turned around in our favour and you have to turn the tables.”
For veteran centre fielder Rick Cey, Tuesday's comeback victory was just par for the course for the Brewers at this stage of the season.
“I've been playing with these guys for almost a decade and it seems like when we get to the playoffs we have these games that come right down to the wire,” Cey said.
“We always have that sense to pull our socks up a little bit when things get tough. It's not quite how we drew everything up when the night began, but we were able to get things done.”
Cey was responsible for the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as he drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Jared Herle.
“I swung at a really bad pitch the first time I was up there as I really wanted to make that game-winning hit,” Cey said. “Luckily I didn't swing at the next pitch, which was a ball, and I was able to stay patient for the rest of the at bat.
“When it got to the 3-1 count I knew I was going to be taking the pitch to try and work to a least a full count. It ended up being a ball and that gave us the win.”
Cey also helped to kickstart a four-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth frame to cut the Blue Jays five-run lead to just a single run.
Aaron Sittler, Ryan Cey and Herle all had RBI singles in the inning,
In the seventh inning, Rick Cey got on base after his hit went off of Blue Jays pitcher Colbey Field and catcher Brent Leavens was unable to make a clean play.
After stealing second base and advancing to third on a single by Cody Wilgenbusch, Cey came home on a sacrifice fly by Jason Schell to tie up the contest.
“I don't know if it was just one thing that made the difference for us late,” Cey said. “Their pitcher was pitching a really good game though and I think the more we saw of him, the more we were able to adapt to his pitches.
“He may have been running out of steam a little bit in the last couple of innings and we started to take advantage of that.”
Although the Brewers entered the playoffs as the second overall seed, they knew that the seventh seeded Blue Jays would be a tough test in the first round, especially after they won the NSRBL title last year.
“The top eight teams in the league are all pretty good this year and you can't take any of them lightly,” Schell said. “They are the defending champions for a reason and they showed how tough they are once again tonight.”
The Brewers have a chance to punch their ticket to the semifinals Thursday night in Lloydminster. A third and deciding game, if needed, will take place in Wilkie Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m.
“We've played a lot of games in Lloydminster over the past few years and we haven't had the best of success there,” Cey said. “We keep it simple, play good defence and get on the sticks earlier we should be in good shape.”
In other NSRBL playoff action, the North Battleford Beavers' season will be on the line Wednesday night as they host the Lloydminster Twins at Beaver Lions Stadium.
The Twins won the opening game of that series 6-1 on Monday in Lloydminster.
If the Beavers can stave off elimination Wednesday, they will travel back to Lloydminster on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Standard Hill Lakers picked up a 1-0 triumph over the Unity Cardinals in the first game of their quarter-final clash in Unity on Tuesday. The Lakers can move on to the semifinals with a win at home Thursday.
The Macklin Lakers and Meadow Lake Sox are tied in their best-of-three series at a game each. The Sox won Game 1 by a score of 6-2 on July 15 while the Lakers prevailed two days later in an 8-1 affair.
The deciding game will take place Tuesday night in Meadow Lake.
