Red Deer’s U15 Ernco Braves are provincial champions.
The minor baseball team went 4-1 in last weekend’s championship tournament in Okotoks.
The Braves edged out the top-rated Calgary Bucks Black 3-2 in the semi-finals on Sunday and then finished off the favoured Okotoks Dawgs Black 8-5 later in the day.
In the final, Okotoks got their offence going, scoring two runs on a home run.
The Braves pulled away for good though with three runs in the third inning. Jake Brooks doubled, scoring a run, and Nathan Flewelling also doubled, scoring a run. Brett Belich grounded out to score the third run.
Red Deer had four runs in the sixth inning with both Brooks and Flewelling scoring RBIs.
The Braves collected 15 hits with Noah Nakonechny and Flewelling each getting three. Brooks, Brett Hall and Wyatt McKeen also had multiple hits.
Luke Schmitt picked up the victory on the mound. The right-hander surrendered five runs on seven hits five and one-third innings, striking out three and walking one. McKeen threw one and two-thirds innings in relief, recording the last five outs to earn the save.