The last game of the regular slo-pitch season in Lake Cowichan was played on Friday, July 20 between the Beer Barons and We Got the Runs. The final score was 11-4 for The Runs.
Team member Rory Genereaux from the Beer Barons says that his team is really good at holding the other team down, but when it comes to batting, they often struggle. However, he is looking forward to the playoffs which begin on July 26 and run through to the 28.
“It will be a blast,” he says. “You never know, you could win three in a row and not have won a game all season. It’s just a toss up.”
There are still make-up games to be played before the playoffs begin on July 26.
The first of these make up games was played on Monday, July 23 and the second will be played on Tuesday, July 24 in both Lake Cowichan and Youbou.
The last day of the playoff games will begin on Saturday, July 28 in both Lake Cowichan and Youbou and will go until about 12:30 p.m., at which time all games will shift to Lake Cowichan in Centennial Park where the final teams left standing will battle it out for the trophy.
There will be prizes following the final games on Saturday, everything from T-shirts to sweaters, jackets and other NSA slo-pitch gear.
On July 28, the local Kinsmen will be hosting a beer gardens at the games at Centennial Park, and Steve Friesen of Friesen Meats will be providing a concession.
There have been seven teams playing this season, but only six will be heading into the playoffs. The Lake Cowichan Fire Department is not playing in the playoffs this year as many in the department will be on call for the weekend.
Ryan Rai, a local coach and team slo-pitch player, says that it’s still a bit early to tell where all the teams stand going into the playoffs.
“We still have to play the make up games,” he says. “It all depends on what happens.”
As of July 23, Rai says it looks like the Distillers are in first place and the Mules in second.