Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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Facing bases loaded in a tied game in the top of the sixth inning, Saskatoon Berries veteran outfielder Ethan Murdoch knew what was on the line with two outs.
Regina Red Sox slugger Jalen Meyers at the plate, pushing to take the lead in a winner-take-all Game 3 of Western Canadian Baseball League East Division semi-finals.
A crack of the bat two pitches later, Murdoch made a charge to the corner in right field in Cairns Field as he chased down a curving fly ball with Red Sox runners waiting with anticipation.
“I knew it was a big moment,” Murdoch said. “Off the bat, I knew I had a shot at it. I was kind of thinking in my head I got to be honest it was, ‘Alright, you better catch this or this is probably it.’”
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The Swift Current product made the defining play of his storied WCBL career on Sunday night, as he dove along the grass to steal a bases-clearing hit away from the Red Sox and likely save Saskatoon’s season in the process.
Less than an hour later, the Berries sat down Regina catcher Daniel Castellanos on strikes to secure the Game 3 victory by a 5-3 final and advance past their Saskatchewan rivals to the East final for the third time in as many years.
Potentially a season-saving catch in right field by Ethan Murdoch.
— Scott Roblin (@ScottRoblin) August 10, 2026
Bases loaded for Regina with two out, the @StoonBerries senior sprawls out to keep Regina off the board.
Still a 3-3 game in the sixth inning. pic.twitter.com/gMMj58Ihrs
“That was a great play and a big moment,” said Berries head coach Joe Carnahan. “It was a ball tailing away from him, he ran through it, dove and was able to make the catch. That was a huge play in the game.”
It’s sweet revenge for the Berries, after Regina ended their record-breaking 2025 WCBL season in the second round to advance to the league’s championship series and eventually win their third Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy.
Murdoch was part of that historic 46-win team and said that early playoff exit has been on their minds for the last 12 months.
“A lot of those guys are the same guys who knocked us out last year,” Murdoch said.
“Man, that was tough and we took it really hard. It feels good to get them back and just another step in the right direction.”
For the Red Sox, it’s a painful final chapter to their season with the guarantee of a new WCBL champion in 2026 after their first round defeat.
“We’re a ball from falling down the right field line in the (sixth) inning away from being up 6-3,” said Red Sox interim head coach Braydon Cobb. “That’s baseball.”
The Berries rebounded from their 5-3 loss in Game 2 on Saturday night in Regina, as they only allowed one error Sunday and stranded 11 Red Sox runners on the night.
Carnahan said the team’s four pitchers Sunday in Augie Grohman, Owen Stempel, Brooks Jones and Wesley Shackelford stepped up as the Berries faced elimination.
“Defensively we were really good and on the mound we were really good,” Carnahan said. “We were able to get some key hits there and then (Nick) Stinson gave us that extra little cushion in the eighth.”
Stinson earned the Gatorade bath post-game after a 3-for-4 night at the plate, where he drove in three runs including a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Saskatoon some breathing room.
It was the Kennesaw, Ga. product’s first taste of post-season action for the Berries after being on the bench for the first two games of the series.
“I was just trying to stay ready,” Stinson said.
“I knew my name would be called up at some point. It was just great to pass the bat along and contribute to our team’s win tonight. I love those boys and just glad we won.”
Saskatoon Berries designated hitter Nick Stinson (pictured) given the Gatorade shower after his three-RBI performance in a Game 3 victory over the Regina Red Sox on Aug. 9, 2026 (Steve Hiscock / Saskatoon Berries)
Carnahan said much of the credit for putting Stinston in the lineup at designated hitter goes to Berries pitching consultant and former MLB arm Dustin Molleken.
“Dustin Molleken said he had a good feeling about Stinson today,” Carnahan said. “Dusty’s been around the game a little bit.”
After two scoreless innings to begin Game 3, Saskatoon got out to an early 3-0 lead in the third inning with rookie catcher Aiden Kilshaw driving in Brock Laird from second base before Stinson picked up his first two RBIs of the night with a single through the right side.
Regina didn’t waste any time on the comeback trail though, as they quickly tied up the score at 3-3 after the fifth inning with a Castellanos sacrifice-fly and RBIs from Meyers and Brady Bye.
Laird scored the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a single to right-centre field to re-take the lead 4-3, before Stinson’s insurance home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“We didn’t panic at all today,” Stinson said. “We just trusted the hard work and the results showed.”
Grohman went four innings for Saskatoon in just his third start of the summer for the team, as he gave up one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts.
The win was earned by Jones in a relief role, as he kept the Red Sox off the score sheet over 2.2 innings pitched with two strikeouts before Shackleford closed out the final two innings of the game without allowing a hit.
While it’s a celebratory mood in the Berries clubhouse, Murdoch said there’s still a long road ahead towards reaching their ultimate goal of becoming WCBL champions.
“It definitely feels good for now, but we didn’t come here to win the first round,” Murdoch said. “That’s definitely step one and we needed to do it, and it was a great series.”
Next up for the Berries will be the East Division’s top-ranked team in the Moose Jaw Miller Express, who swept the Medicine Hat Mavericks in two games to advance to the second round.
Despite finishing lower in the standings, Saskatoon won five of eight meetings against the Miller Express this season.
According to Carnahan however, it will be the Berries’ biggest test of the season yet.
“They’re a good club,” Carnahan said, “They got every aspect of the game. They can pitch it, they can run, they got some pop in their lineup. It’s going to be a really good series.”
Carnahan added they will take the next few days to determine who will get the start for Game 1 of the East Division final on Tuesday night in Moose Jaw, before the series shifts back to Cairns Field on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for Game 2.
Red Sox say ‘Good-Bye’ to an all-time great
Moments after their season came to a close in Saskatoon, Red Sox players and coaches gathered along the third base line to share the diamond one last time.
A year removed from becoming WCBL champions themselves, Cobb said their resolve to push the series to a deciding Game 3 and their performance on Sunday night told the story.
Saskatoon Berries and Regina Red Sox players exchanging handshakes following Saskatoon’s 5-3 victory in Game 3 of WCBL East Division semi-finals on Aug. 9, 2026 (Steve Hiscock / Saskatoon Berries)
“I’m just proud of them,” Cobb said.
“They battled all the way through. There were multiple times in this game where we could have shut down, we were always behind each other and kept sticking through it and made it a tight ball game.”
Among the graduates from the Red Sox is Bye, a hometown star who exits the program as one of the most decorated players in franchise history.
“A lot of love for this group,” Bye said. “It’s a tough one. I’m not exactly sure what’s next for me, but I know I’ll remember these guys forever. I’m just trying to stay happy and just be happy for these guys.”
Bye played five seasons for the Red Sox, winning WCBL Playoff MVP honours last season as part of their championship roster and more recently set the team’s single-season home run and RBI records.
Cobb said Bye’s impact on the organization is immeasurable and will go down as one of the best players in Red Sox history.
“Words can’t describe what Brady Bye means to this team,” Cobb said.
“You can’t put it into words. He’s been our heart and soul for going on five years. If there’s a time where somebody’s going to come through, it’s going to be number two.”
A product of the minor baseball system in Regina and nearby White City, Bye said it was his dream to one day suit up for his childhood club.
Five years later, the infielder and catcher is still pinching himself getting to represent the red and white of the Red Sox.
“It means the world honestly,” Bye said. “I grew up watching these games, I grew up going to the kids’ camps, so it’s pretty special to just be a part of it. I’m forever grateful for what I’ve been able to accomplish here.”
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