Oak River wins first senior AA provincial crown
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A surprisingly long drought is over for the Oak River Dodgers.
One of the best clubs in Manitoba’s senior AA baseball for the past decade finally has the hardware to prove it.
The Dodgers came back to beat the host West Winnipeg A’s 7-4 in the provincial final on Sunday, capping a perfect weekend for the South West Baseball League’s North Division champs.
“It was fun; it’s been a while since we’ve won anything, so it felt good,” said Dodgers star Ty Paddock.
It’s Oak River’s first senior AA provincial crown and first title since winning the SWBL crown three times in four seasons from 2017 to 2020.
Since then, the playoffs didn’t happen in 2021 due to COVID-19, and the Boissevain Centennials have won five straight.
Boissevain swept Oak River 3-0 in the league final, and the two powerhouses appeared destined for one more clash in the provincial final.
The Dodgers dispatched the Cartwright Twins 2-0 to open the tournament on Friday, then beat the A’s 8-3 and Carillon Sultans 3-2 after securing first place in Pool A.
The Cents crushed the Altona Bisons 10-0 on Friday, then dominated the Plumas Pirates 14-1 before downing the Elmwood Giants 6-4.
On Sunday, Oak River pickup Kyle Breemersch pitched a gem, dropping Altona 12-2 in a five-inning mercy-rule victory.
“Bremersch threw well; our defence was good, kind of been a weak spot all year and it was the best we’ve played defensively,” Paddock said.
In the other semifinal, Boissevain’s near-perfect 2026 came to a screeching halt in a 12-0 beatdown by West Winnipeg.
Then, southpaw pitcher Anthony Friesen stepped up for Oak River. After the former Pilot Mound Pilot opened the tournament with a complete-game shutout against Cartwright, he put six zeroes on the board in the final, only tripping up in one four-run frame after Max Paddock put the Dodgers ahead with a two-run homer early.
Dunc Paddock sparked Oak River’s rally in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single before his guys piled on four runs.
Friesen, who joined the Dodgers in 2026, saved his best for last in a quick top of the seventh to secure the win.
“That’s what we’ve been missing, is an ace,” Paddock said. We’ve got a few guys that can throw pretty well but to have him, you’re pretty confident every time he goes out there that you have a good shot at winning.”
EXTRAS: Cartwright’s Ty Enns won the home-run derby on Friday.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com