Berries steal Game 1 of WCBL final in Sylvan Lake 4-1, one win away from first title

One win down, one to go for the Saskatoon Berries who are now on the doorstep of their first Western Canadian Baseball League championship in franchise history.

The Berries got the job done on the road Saturday night to kick off the WCBL championship series with a 4-1 victory over the Sylvan Lake Gulls.

Slugger Ethan Murdoch launched his third home run of the post-season at Pogadl Park in Sylvan Lake, as the Berries pitching staff held the Gulls offence in check with just three hits allowed to win Game 1 of the best-of-three final series.

Read more:

• Saskatoon Berries embracing championship mindset in first WCBL final appearance
• Tre Ford provides spark to Hamilton, beat the Riders 26-19
• Saskatchewan’s Tanner Svenson wins gold in bocce at Special Olympics

Saskatoon will now take a 1-0 series lead back to Cairns Field on Sunday with an opportunity to lift the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy in front of their home fans.

In the first inning, the Berries took advantage of some inconsistent pitching from Sylvan Lake starter Reece Hemmerling who hit both Gael Salinas and Mason Roell with pitches to load the bases.

Five pitches later, catcher Aiden Kilshaw grounded out but was able to bring home Brock Laird from third base for the opening run of Game 1.

Saskatoon extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning, with Hemmerling walking in a run with the bases loaded.

Josh Henson nearly made it a three-run lead for the Berries shortly after with a fly-out to left centre field, however the Gulls were able to throw out Salinas at home for the double-play to keep it a 2-0 game.

Sylvan Lake’s three errors on the night cost them in the fourth inning, with an error charged to Gulls catcher Hunter Derr allowed Nathan Houston to come in to score from third base for the 3-0 Saskatoon lead.

Berries pitcher Zachary Landreville pitched into the fourth inning with a no-hitter, but Sylvan Lake was able to gain some momentum with hits from Dominic Giusti and Johnboy Rittenhouse.

After a coaching visit, Sylvan Lake capitalized with Cleary Simpson reaching base on an error by Saskatoon shortstop Brock Laird which scored Giusti for the Gulls’ lone run of the night.

Landreville’s night ended in the bottom of the sixth inning after giving up a single and a walk, as his stat line finished with one earned run against on three hits with five strikeouts.

Berries reliever Brooks Jones stepped up with runners at first and second, as he got Simpson to ground out and keep the Gulls at bay.

Murdoch put his stamp on the game in the top of the seventh inning, as he took the second pitch he saw over the fence in deep right field for a solo home run to make it a 4-1 game.

Jones was able to strike out the side in the bottom of the seventh for Saskatoon, before Berries closer Wesley Shackelford took it the rest of the way to secure the Game 1 victory.

The Berries will head back to Saskatoon and the confines of Cairns Field on Sunday at 7 p.m. with an opportunity to close out the series and capture a WCBL title in front of a sold-out crowd.

Read more:

• Saskatoon Berries embracing championship mindset in first WCBL final appearance
• Tre Ford provides spark to Hamilton, beat the Riders 26-19
• Saskatchewan’s Tanner Svenson wins gold in bocce at Special Olympics