By IAN WILSON
It’s go time.
The Western Canadian Baseball League’s 2025 regular season is complete and it’s time for postseason action.
The Saskatoon Berries put together a record-breaking campaign to claim the President’s Trophy title as the top team in the regular season. With a record of 46-9, the Berries established a new high for wins in a season. They punched their ticket to the playoffs early and will be joined in the East Division dance by the Medicine Hat Mavericks, Regina Red Sox and Moose Jaw Miller Express. The Weyburn Beavers and Swift Current 57’s failed to qualify for the postseason.
In the West Division, the Okotoks Dawgs reached the 40-win mark for a fourth consecutive summer and have secured home field advantage for at least the first two rounds of the postseason. Also qualifying for the playoffs are the Sylvan Lake Gulls, Lethbridge Bulls and Brooks Bombers. The Fort McMurray Giants and Energy City Cactus Rats were scrapping it out for the final playoff spot right until the last day of the regular season.
The eight playoff contenders from the 12-team league have now been determined and the opening-round matchups for the best-of-three series are set.
Here’s a closer look at what we can expect in the first round of the WCBL postseason.
EAST DIVISION
1. SASKATOON BERRIES (46-9) vs. 4. MOOSE JAW MILLER EXPRESS (27-29)
The top-seeded Berries square off against the Miller Express, the team that ended Saskatoon’s 2024 season in the East Division championship.
The Berries prevailed in the franchise’s first playoff series against the Medicine Hat Mavericks last year, before falling to Moose Jaw in a wild back-and-forth series. The Berries won the first game of that matchup 14-1, before the Miller Express struck back with a 17-6 victory and finished things off with a 5-3 triumph in Saskatoon.
During the 2025 regular season, the pitching staff of the Berries allowed the fewest runs, earned runs, home runs and walks in the WCBL. Saskatoon’s starting rotation included Merek Yeager, Deigo Quinonez, Matt Whitney, Michael Sall and Robert Bonilla. Their bullpen received strong performances from Zac Laird, Clay Mixon, Klevert Martina, Dallen Rude and Tanner Hosick.
While Saskatoon’s pitching was solid, their offence was also potent. The bats of the Berries led the league in hits, runs, home runs, RBI, total bases, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging during the regular season. Their top hitters include Ethan Menard, Carter Beck, Cory Wouters, Nathan Houston, Ethan Murdoch, Abiam Medina, Mason Roell and Bailyn Sorensen. It’s a lineup that can stack up runs before the opposing starting pitcher realizes he’s back in his dugout, wiping sweat from his brow and watching a reliever take over for him in the early stages of the game.
The Berries were a juggernaut and their regular-season record reflected that – can they keep humming along in the postseason?
The Miller Express, meanwhile, have been a proven playoff threat in recent years. They represented the East Division in the WCBL championship in 2022 and 2024, including last year’s run to the final as a fourth-seeded squad. In both title matchups against the Okotoks Dawgs, Moose Jaw pushed the series to a full three games before falling short at Seaman Stadium.
The pitching staff of the Millers, which logged more innings in the regular season than any other club, will be hard-pressed to limit the offensive output of the Berries. Moose Jaw pitchers allowed more hits than any team in the WCBL and only Swift Current surrendered more earned runs. They’ll need a strong series from starting pitcher Westin Walls, who led the league in strikeouts and innings pitched, but was also tagged with a number of hits and runs along the way. Walls picked up the win for Moose Jaw against the Berries in the final game of their playoff series last summer. Right-handed starter Rodolfo Guardiola also pitched well for the Miller Express this season and the team made Ethan Merk – the WCBL wins leader in 2023 – a late-season roster addition. Out of the bullpen, homegrown product Nathan Pisio has been one of the top relievers in the league.
Moose Jaw boasts one of the better hitting teams on the circuit. Their batters are capable of scoring runs in bunches and they are patient at the plate, drawing more walks than any other team. They’re also not afraid to suffer bruises to advance 90 feet. No team in the WCBL had more hit batters than the Miller Express during the regular season. Outfielder William Edwards and infielder Austin Gurney form a powerful one-two punch in the batting lineup. Both batters led the team in batting average and they sat atop the RBI leaderboard in the WCBL. Infielder Thomas Soto compliments the duo nicely – he led the league in runs scored while also picking up stolen bases and getting on base with regularity. Ben Waliczek is another speedster on the club with a strong batting average and the ability to put up runs.
The Berries won seven of their eight games against the Miller Express during head-to-head play during the regular season.
Game 1 takes place at NexGen Patch at Cairns Field in Saskatoon on Wednesday, Aug. 6th, Game 2 is set for Ross Wells Park in Moose Jaw on Thursday, Aug. 7th and, if necessary, Game 3 will happen on Friday, Aug. 8th at NexGen Patch at Cairns Field. All games start at 7 p.m.
2. MEDICINE HAT MAVERICKS (34-20) vs. 3. REGINA RED SOX (29-26)
The Mavs and Red Sox meet in a rematch of their 2023 opening round series, which was swept by Medicine Hat in two games. The Mavericks went on to face the Okotoks Dawgs in the championship that season, ultimately losing the title in three hard-fought games.
Few of the same faces remain from that season, but both teams will be eager to renew the rivalry.
Medicine Hat had one of the best offences in the WCBL during the regular season and received productive summers from Carter Roth, Ty Vanneste, Jeremy Freeman Jr., Micah Dvorak, Evan Morrison and Yusei Uzawa. The Vulcano brothers – Aaron, Adam and Johnny – were also key contributors in the lineup.
When it came to pitching, the Mavericks were statistically a middle of the pack team. Nonetheless, the club has some bright spots in the starting rotation, including Xander Roberts, Danny Retzlaff and Luis Diaz, who has also worked out of the bullpen. Diego Centella, Luke Barrientos and Ryan Harney have been trusted relievers on the squad.
The Red Sox – who lost to the Mavs in the 2018 championship back when the circuit was known as the Western Major Baseball League – had a well-balanced roster during the regular season. The arms on Regina posted above average results while pitching in front of reliable defenders. Red Sox hitters were also able to take over ball games at Currie Field.
One of the biggest challenges facing the team is an exodus of pitching talent ahead of the playoffs. Top innings eaters Blake Johnson, Colton Anderson, Kai Langford, Calvin Shepherd, David Hankins and Holden Hungerford have all departed. Regina will look for Ayden Page, Nicolas Yard and Chris Spry to step up, along with some late-season additions.
Heavy hitters Jackson Syring and Jalen Seward played half the season before heading south, but there is still plenty of pop in the remaining bats. All eyes will be on Brady Bye, Matthew Fox, Rafael Jackson, James Wright, Jordan Tucker and Riley Bender to produce runs in the playoffs.
The Red Sox and Mavericks met eight times during the regular season, with each team winning four games.
The opening game of the series takes place at Athletic Park in Medicine Hat on Aug. 6th, with the second game happening at Currie Field in Regina on Aug. 7th. If necessary, a third and deciding game will take place at Athletic Park on Aug. 8th. All game times are 7 p.m.
WEST DIVISION
1. OKOTOKS DAWGS (40-15) vs. 4. BROOKS BOMBERS (22-33)
To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best, and the Okotoks Dawgs have been that for the last three years. After putting the finishing touches on their three-peat of championships in 2024, the Dawgs are hoping to keep their run of titles going. Standing in their way are the Brooks Bombers, who had to fight like mad just to qualify for postseason play.
These teams met in the opening round of the 2022 postseason, with the Dawgs sweeping that series and outscoring the Bombers 28-8 over two games. Brooks is still seeking its first franchise victory in the playoffs.
During the regular season, the Dawgs led the West Division in runs, hits, home runs, RBI, total bases and stolen bases. Okotoks also had the best fielding percentage in the WCBL and the third lowest team ERA (4.07) in the league.
Top hitters on the Dawgs include Connor Crowson, Zane Skansi, Jake Skaggs, Barry Eiseman, Nash Crowell, Logan Grant and Ricardo Sanchez. It’s an experienced batting lineup that knows how to win games when they matter the most.
The starting rotation will miss the ever-dependable Graham Brunner, who joined the coaching staff of Dawgs Academy after wrapping up his WCBL pitching career in 2024. Okotoks will look to starting pitchers Brady Baltus, Gavin Wuschke, Brody Forno and Jase Wessels to step up in his absence. The team will also need meaningful innings from a bullpen that includes Chase Tucker, Trey Mackwood, Ryan McFarland, Frank Flores, Easton Corey and closer Alex Oliver. One pitcher capable of being a difference maker is Ashton Luera, who was phenomenal in closing out games for the Dawgs during their 2024 championship run. Luera has been with the team this summer but was injured for most of the regular season. When healthy, he’s an electric bullpen ace.
The Bombers, meanwhile, will look to play the role of David versus this WCBL Goliath. If the regular season statistics are any indication, Brooks doesn’t stand much of a chance, but the Bombers put up a good fight against the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the opening round of the 2024 playoffs.
To pull off the upset, the best hitters on the Bombers will have to find another gear. Ben Fishel, Payton Matthews, CJ Snowden and Wyatt Ormonde are all capable of going yard and getting on base. Snowden, Fishel and Matthews are also threats to steal bases. Can they do damage against the pitching staff of the Dawgs?
Speaking of pitching, can starters Kody Butt, Brian Walters, Parker King, Skyler Sievert and company keep the lethal bats of the Dawgs in check? If so, the Bombers have a reliable late-innings weapon in Heath Hachkowski available to finish games. The Red Deer native was one of the best relievers in the WCBL during the regular season.
The Bombers and Dawgs met 10 times during the regular season, with Okotoks picking up wins in eight of those meetings.
The Dawgs host the Bombers in Game 1 at Seaman Stadium on Aug. 6th, before Brooks welcomes Okotoks to Elks Field for Game 2 on Aug. 7th. If a third game is necessary, it will take place at Seaman Stadium on Aug. 8th. Games start at 7 p.m.
2. SYLVAN LAKE GULLS (35-20) vs. 3. LETHBRIDGE BULLS (32-22)
Both the Gulls and Bulls pushed the Okotoks Dawgs to the brink during the 2024 playoffs before ultimately falling to the eventual WCBL champion. This year, only one of these teams will get the opportunity to seek revenge against Okotoks, should the Dawgs advance past the Bombers.
Lethbridge and Sylvan Lake are also renewing their own postseason hostilities. The Lake Boys swept the Bulls during the opening round of the 2023 playoffs and outscored them by a 25-11 margin in two games.
Both teams are average when it comes to hitting and run production, but the Gulls pitching staff was far better at suppressing scoring during the regular season.
When Sylvan Lake gets their bats going, they’re typically led by Jaden Flores, Simon Baker, Brock Tijerina, Rowin O’Connor, Brooks Bachman and Ayden Makarus. Antony Gilbert – the 2024 WCBL batting champ as a member of the Brooks Bombers – was a late-season addition the team hopes can help spark the offence. The Gulls will need some clutch hitting to advance to the second round.
The key to Sylvan’s playoff success will be continued dominance from the mound. Gone is Ty Boudreau, the 2023 Most Outstanding Pitcher in the WCBL. He signed with the New York Yankees after the MLB Draft. The remaining Gulls on the pitching staff should be reasonably well rested, as none have logged more than 40 innings of work. Josh Tucker, the league’s all-time strikeout leader, brings a wealth of experience to the postseason. He’ll be counted on along with Matthew Mackenzie, Mason Little, Josh Doelitsch, Leeroy Taverez and closer Mickey McClaskey.
One X factor in this series is how the Lake Boys will respond to the news that head coach Jason Chatwood will not be returning as the team’s skipper next season. Chatwood has led the Gulls on the field since they came into the WCBL in 2021. Will Chatwood’s players rally around him as he seeks the organization’s first league championship?
Looking at Lethbridge, the Bulls bring the top starting pitcher and the most successful closer in the league to this series. Levi Abbott posted the lowest ERA in the league while sitting at or near the top of the wins and strikeout leaderboards. For his part, bullpen ace Donovan Gamez recorded eight saves and looked unhittable at times this summer. Abbott’s rotation mates – including Maxim Mrakovcic and Brett Getz – are also capable of make quick work of would-be hitters.
At the plate, Lethbridge has a good blend of table setters and heavy hitters. Bernie Soccaras led the WCBL in batting average and is a threat to steal bases and score runs in bunches. The Bulls also have five batters with five or more homers this season, including Jack Kalisky, Carter Claerhout, Brennan McTavish, Lee Matsuzaki and Dalen Blanchard.
These two teams met eight times during the regular season and split the series with four wins each.
The first game of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Gulls Field on Aug. 6th, followed by Game 2 at Spitz Stadium in Lethbridge on Aug. 7th, also at 7 p.m. If a third game is required, it will happen at Gulls Field on Aug. 8th at 7 p.m.
PLAYOFF FORMAT
Postseason play gets underway on Wednesday, Aug. 6th. All playoff series are best-of-three affairs.
The opening round – which is scheduled for Aug. 6-8 – sees divisional clashes between the No. 1 seed and the No. 4 seed, along with matchups between the second-place team and the third-place squad. The tops seeds have home-field advantage and will host games one and three (if necessary).
The teams that advance then fight it out for top spot in the East Division and the best in the West Division. That second round is set for Aug. 10-12.
The WCBL’s final series pits the elite team in the East Division versus the finest club in the West Division in a showdown for the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s championship winner. That series is set to take place from Aug. 14-16.
During the trophy presentation, a postseason Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is also given out to the best player in the playoffs.
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