Hens Bow out in Provincial Semi-Final, Begin Border League Playoffs at home on Thursday

The Senior AA Provincial tournament started off with a mess of blowout games on Friday evening, with all four games being won by ten or more runs. That included the Mud Hens beating Altona 11-1. Things improved substantially on Saturday morning when Morden and Boissevain needed two extra innings to decide a winner. With the game tied at one, Boissevain finally managed to score the winning run in the ninth inning to claim the victory. That win also put them in first place in Pool A, and the Mud Hens, after beating Portage 5-3 Saturday evening, took second place. Crossing over in the semi-finals on Sunday, Boissevain lost to Pool B's second place West Winnipeg 8-4 in the first semi. Morden played first place Cartwright in another classic, Branden Hatley and Anthony Friesen were locked in pitchers duel, and once again the Hens came out on the wrong side of a 2-1 decision. That meant Cartwight and West Winnipeg would meet in the final. Cartwright took a 5-4 lead into the top of the seventh but couldn't hold on, surrendering three runs in the inning and were unable to score in the bottom half, making the final 7-5.

The Mud Hens will turn their attention back to the Border League with the first round of the playoffs starting this week. Game One will go in Morden on Thursday, Game Two goes Friday night in Winkler, Game Three is back in Morden on Sunday at 2pm. If necessary Games Four and Five will go next Tuesday and Wednesday.

First pitch on Thursday in Morden is at 7pm.