There will be a new Western Canadian Baseball League champion in 2026 while, at the same time, the Saskatoon Berries made it three straight years winning an East Division semi-final series after Saskatoon downed the Regina Red Sox 5-3 Sunday night at Cairns Field.

The victory gave the Berries a 2-1 decision in the best-of-three set with the home team winning all three games and avenged last year when the road team won all three games of the East Division final, propelling Regina to the league final that they won. Three plays, all of which went Saskatoon’s way, were instrumental in the Berries’ victory in front of 1,627 fans. In the top of the sixth inning and the score tied 3-3, with the bases loaded and two out, Saskatoon right fielder Ethan Murdoch made a diving, sprawling catch just off the grass of a Jalen Meyers fly ball that was slicing away from him. In the bottom of the sixth, Berries’ shortstop Brock Laird blooped a single just over the head of second baseman Meyers to drive in Nathan Houston with the winning run. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Saskatoon designated hitter Nick Stinson belted a no-doubt solo home run to right field to give the Berries a badly-needed insurance run. Brooks Jones got the pitching win in relief with two-and-two-thirds scoreless innings and Wesley Shackelford retired the last six hitters he faced for a save. Veteran Red Sox pitcher Daniel Crabtree was tagged with the loss for the second time in the series – both times in relief. Saskatoon moves on to face Moose Jaw in the best-of-three East Division final, starting Tuesday in Moose Jaw with Game 2 Wednesday at Cairns Field and a third game, if necessary, back in Moose Jaw on Thursday. The Berries lost the 2024 East final to the Miller-Express and last year’s East final to Regina – the latter coming after Saskatoon eliminated Moose Jaw in the East semi-final round. Following are media scrums with head coach Joe Carnahan and Murdoch, plus Les Lazaruk’s conversations with Stinson and Jones…..