In a slugfest to settle bragging rights for the season in the Spruce City Men's Fastball League, Falcon Contracting got the job done.
Just like they did the previous three seasons, Falcon found a way to win the league's last game of the season. They won their fourth-straight SCMFL championship Tuesday night at Spruce City Stadium - a 22-15 triumph over the Nak'azdli Indians.
Nicholas Potskin was the offensive star for Falcon, cracking three of his team's six home runs in the final.
"Nicholas was on fire," said Falcon designated hitter/first baseman Chad Ghostkeeper. "I lost track how many RBIs he had."
Robbie Antoine went the full seven innings pitching for Falcon and he had a 3-0 lead to work with after the first inning. Falcon continued to pound the ball and made it 6-0 and Clint Sam was brought in to replace Byron Sam on the rubber for the Indians after the second inning. The Indians scored five to make it close and it remained a close game after that.
"Robbie and Clint both pitched the night before to get into the final and they were both tired so that's why there were so many runs," said Ghostkeeper. "That score (22-15) is not normal."
Potskin, Ghostkeeper and their Falcon teammates Jarrett Potskin, Shelby Tom, and Randy Potskin will play for the Big Guy Lake Blazers, representing Prince George this weekend in the open division at the Canadian Native Fastball Championships in Regina. They'll join forces in Regina with Blazer mainstays Jeremy Gervais, Jerricko Prince, Devin Sutton, Jarin Sutton and pitcher Norm Linton.
Pitcher Josh Anderson of Vancouver, the MVP of the Canada Day fastpitch tournament in Prince George, will also play for Big Guy Lake. Last year Anderson helped Lenny's Selects of Prince George win the under-23 division at the native national championship in Edmonton.
"I like the speed on this team, it's going to be a fast, aggressive team," said Linton. "They all play together all year so they're all going to know each other. It's an advantage knowing what they can do and can't do."
Anderson and Linton will be the pitchers this weekend and Ghostkeeper gives Big Guy Lake a third arm, if needed. Linton expects Nicholas Potskin will likely be one of the top hitters in the tournament, assuming he picks up where he left off.
"He's by far one of the deadliest hitters around," said Linton. "I would know because I've faced him on a regular basis. There's been a few rockets (off Potskin's bat) that have come very close to me. That guy makes you be on your toes when you throw a pitch outside to him."
The senior squad is a blend of the two Prince George U-23 junior teams - Lenny's Selects and Big Guy Lake - from last year's native national championship. Big Guy Lake finished third in the junior division last year.
"We figure with adding Chad, Randy, Norm Linton and (Nicholas) we've got four adults and the rest are junior-aged, so we'll have the youngest team in the men's tournament there," said Big Guy Lake manager Sheldon "Big Guy" Bjorklund.
Tre Potskin of Edmonton and Brian Nicholas of Invermere will also play for Big Guy Lake. Darrell Gervais, Mike Sutton and Brevin Gervais are the coaches. They play their first game at 3 p.m. Regina time on Friday.
The final is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Westbank Cardinals are the defending champions. They beat the NB Hawks of Regina in last year's senior final in Edmonton.
