2021 WCBL Playoffs

The WCBL playoffs start today. The league’s 40-game modified 2021 season came to a close yesterday, with the Okotoks Dawgs Red team being eliminated from playoff contention, finishing in 5th place overall. The remaining 4 teams, Okotoks Dawgs Black, Sylvan Lake Gulls, Lethbridge Bulls, and Edmonton Prospects, will start their shortened playoff series this evening.

The first matchup pits the 1st placed Dawgs Black Team against the 4th seed Edmonton Prospects, who narrowly avoided elimination to earn their playoff berth by a 3 win margin. This series starts today in Okotoks with the home team Dawgs Black looking to take an early lead over their opponents in the best-of-3 series.

The other matchup has the 2nd seed Gulls against 3rd seed Bulls going head to head with a series that starts in Sylvan Lake tonight. The Bulls will have a challenge against the Gulls, as late season roster changes have seen both starting pitchers Kyle Poapst reaching his inning limit, and catch Ty Wevers return to school to adhere to their pre-season COVID protocols. This has left the Bulls struggling to find their footing on defense, particularly on the mound, and the team has dropped their last 6 games, including 4 in a row to the Gulls they now face in the first round of the playoffs. Starter Levi Abbott is expected to return this evening after being rested going into the playoffs, so we hope to see the defense rally around him while the Bulls’ hot bats get to work.

The Bulls will be playing at Spitz Stadium on Tuesday, August 17th for game 2 of the series against the Gulls. The final game (if required) of the series will be played on Wednesday, August 18th. The location for that game has not yet been announced should it be needed.