The postseason has arrived.
After punching their ticket to the Western Canadian Baseball League playoffs with a convincing 13-5 victory over the Saskatoon Berries on Aug. 3, the Regina Red Sox now turn their attention back to the same opponent as the clubs open their best-of-three Eastern Division First Round series on Friday night at Cairns Field.
Regina finished the regular season with a 26-30 record, good for third place in the East, while the Berries secured second place at 38-18.
Despite the difference in the standings, the regular season series proved just how evenly matched these two clubs are.
The Red Sox and Berries split their 10 regular season meetings at five wins apiece, with half of those contests decided by two runs or fewer. Regina’s playoff-clinching win earlier this week also handed the Berries one of their more lopsided defeats of the season, giving the Red Sox plenty of confidence entering the series.
Berries Bring Dangerous Lineup
Saskatoon enters the postseason with one of the WCBL’s deepest offensive lineups.
Eight Berries hitters finished the regular season batting over .300, led by Gael Salinas, who put together one of the league’s best campaigns. Salinas hit .419 with six home runs, 60 RBI and an impressive 1.123 OPS.
Power-hitting outfielder Ethan Murdoch provided another dangerous bat, leading Saskatoon with 14 home runs while driving in 62 runs and posting a 1.069 OPS. Overall, six Berries hitters finished the season with an OPS above .900, making the lineup difficult to navigate from top to bottom.
On the mound, veteran right-hander Diego Quinonez logged a team-high 50.1 innings while issuing just 12 walks all season.
The Berries also boast one of the league’s strongest pitching staffs, led by Michael Sall, who posted a 2.45 ERA over 33 innings. Brooks Jones was equally effective, recording a 1.75 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 25.2 innings, while Wesley Shackleford compiled a 1.88 ERA with 17 strikeouts in just 14.1 innings of work.
Regina’s Offence Ready for October Baseball
Offence has been Regina’s calling card throughout the 2026 season.
Brady Bye put together a historic campaign, rewriting the Red Sox record book with a franchise-record 13 home runs and 67 RBI. The senior infielder finished second in the WCBL in RBI while tying for fourth in home runs, consistently serving as the catalyst in the middle of Regina’s lineup.
The Red Sox received a major boost midway through the season from Ian Montz, who quickly became one of the league’s hottest hitters. In just 29 games, Montz batted .327 with a 1.025 OPS, six home runs and 30 RBI.
Jake Fowler emerged as one of the league’s premier table setters, hitting .348 over 31 games while providing steady defence throughout the infield.
Jalen Meyers added another dangerous right-handed bat to the lineup after joining the club, batting .364 with a 1.074 OPS while launching seven home runs in only 35 games.
Combined, the quartet gives Regina one of the league’s most dangerous offensive cores heading into the postseason.
Pitching Will Be the Difference
The Red Sox rotation and bullpen will be tasked with slowing one of the league’s most explosive offences.
Daniel Crabtree led Regina with 55.1 innings pitched during the regular season, while Kaegan Baker finished close behind at 53.2 innings. Baker also paced the pitching staff with 62 strikeouts.
Australian left-hander Samuel Jackson added another reliable arm, finishing second on the club with 54 strikeouts.
Versatility has also been a major strength for Regina’s staff.
Infielder Jake Fowler made valuable contributions on the mound, leading the team with a 3.97 ERA, while Kris Hahn turned in a dependable season with a 4.08 ERA over 39.2 innings.
David Gordon filled multiple roles throughout the year, excelling as both a starter and a late-game option while striking out 39 batters in 37.1 innings.
Series Schedule
The Eastern Division First Round is a best-of-three series.
Game 1
Friday, Aug. 7 – Regina Red Sox at Saskatoon Berries
7:00 p.m. – Cairns Field
Game 2
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Saskatoon Berries at Regina Red Sox
6:00 p.m. – Currie Field
Game 3 (if necessary)
Sunday, Aug. 9 – Regina Red Sox at Saskatoon Berries
7:00 p.m. – Cairns Field
With the regular season series split evenly and five of the 10 meetings decided by two runs or less, the stage is set for what promises to be one of the most competitive first-round matchups in the WCBL playoffs.
Back To News
