The Lethbridge Baseball Club represents the province at the national level – Lethbridge

The Lethbridge Lumberjacks got some final training spurts on Tuesday night, a last-minute preparation before heading to Ontario.

The team is one of six teams participating in the 2022 Canadian Intermediate Baseball Championship.

« Pretty nervous, » pitcher Carter Bevans said before the trip. « We have already faced one of the teams there, but we don’t know about the others yet. »

“It’s excitement, a bit of nervousness,” said catcher/third baseman Andrew Puszkar.

The team made the tournament after beating Medicine Hat in a three-game series last weekend.

Assistant coach Travis Oberg says the Lumberjacks faced some adversity in the final before earning their ticket to Ottawa.

« We suffered a tough loss in the first game and the boys really dug deep and came back with a 16-10 win and then a 9-3 win, » Oberg said.

Now the Lumberjacks will face teams from across the country, starting with a game Thursday against North Regina, which they beat twice earlier this season.

If they find themselves in the top four teams after a five-game round robin, they will advance to the playoff round.

« Little League puts on great national championships and I think that experience itself will carry them for years to come, » Oberg said. « It’s a memory they will have – to be able to say they were the team and to be able to play this year for Alberta. »

After a few seasons ruined by COVID-19, players are ready for the chance to compete against some of the best teams in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.

« I’m excited to see what the competition is like there and just can’t wait to see some really good pitchers trying to hit against them, » said outfielder Braeden Gaskell.

And get ready to enjoy their moment on the national stage.

« You know we want to win, but it’s a once in a lifetime experience, » Puszkar said.

« You want to have fun and remember it. »

The winner of the tournament will represent Canada at the Intermediate World Series in California next month.