A pitching duel, base-running fuel and extra innings provided a postseason classic for Western Canadian Baseball League fans in the opening game of the championship series.

The heavyweight tilt between the Sylvan Lake Gulls and Regina Red Sox at Currie Field featured fantastic pitching performances from both teams during a 3-2 triumph for the Gulls.

Joshua Tucker, the all-time strikeout leader in the WCBL, started for the Gulls and went six innings. The southpaw from Spokane, Washington allowed eight hits, four walks and two earned runs, while striking out seven batters. Of his 110 pitches, 70 were thrown for strikes. 

The Red Sox got to Tucker in the bottom of the third inning when outfielder Rafael Jackson singled and then stole second base before another single from shortstop Matthew Fox sent Jackson to third base. A sacrifice fly from catcher Brady Bye cashed in Jackson for the opening score of the game. Tucker got out of trouble by inducing a double play after that.

Sylvan Lake answered right back in the top of the fourth inning when designated hitter Brock Tijerina singled and stole second base, before an intentional walk to third baseman Antony Gilbert and a single from outfielder Michael Quick loaded the bases. Catcher Tripp Ray grounded out but Tijerina scored on the play to tie things up 1-1. 

The Red Sox gained a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning when Fox cranked his first home run of the playoffs, a solo shot that got the 2,052 fans in attendance on their feet. 

Zander Oudie-Senger, the starting pitcher for the Red Sox, held the Gulls mostly in check over his five innings, but he was pulled when Tijerina singled to start the sixth inning. Quick singled off of reliever Vittorio Iacobucci and a wild pitch advanced both runners. Ray then smacked a sac fly that scored Tijerina and tied the game at two runs apiece.

Both bullpens kept the game tight from there. Iacobucci only allowed one hit and no earned runs over two innings for Regina, while Garrett Lundmark struck out seven batters over four scoreless innings in picking up the win for Sylvan Lake.

Ayden Page took the ball for the Red Sox in the eighth inning. The Oklahoma righthander has been a menace on the mound for Regina, allowing no earned runs and striking out 15 batters while collecting two saves and a win over 14.1 innings during the 2025 WCBL postseason. He went four innings in Game 1 and was saddled with the loss after giving up the lead run in the top of the 11th during an unusual sequence. Page struck out Gilbert for the first out. Quick then singled and moved to second base on an error. A wild pitch advanced Quick to third and Ray was intentionally walked. From there, the Gulls pulled off a double steal - Ray took second while Quick snuck home. The maneuver gave the Gulls a 3-2 edge heading into the bottom of the 11th inning.

Fireballing closer Mickey McClaskey took over on the bump for Sylvan Lake and walked Zayd Brannigan before striking out Fox, who went 5-for-6 in the game. Bye popped out to centre for the second out and McClaskey ended the game by getting Daniel Castellanos to strike out swinging. 

The Red Sox outhit the Gulls 12-9 in the contest but Regina left 15 runners stranded on base.

The Gulls will look to close out the series and clinch their first WCBL championship at Gulls Field in Sylvan Lake on Friday, Aug. 15th while the Red Sox will look to avoid elimination and force a decisive third game on Saturday, Aug. 16th. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Photo by Wanda Harron