2021 WCBL Playoff Matchups Set

It’s hard to believe, but the Western Canadian Baseball League playoffs are already here.

After having to shelve the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then all of the uncertainty surrounding what could be done this summer, the league kicked off June 18th with five teams taking part in a 40-game regular season.

The schedule came to a close Sunday afternoon with the Sylvan Lake Gulls blanking the Lethbridge Bulls 9-0, thanks to a combined no-hitter from Evan Wilde, Brett Higgins and Zane Dollon, while Okotoks Dawgs Red wrapped up their season with a 7-2 win over the Edmonton Prospects.

While Dawgs Red won’t be heading to the playoffs, their counterparts on Dawgs Black cemented top spot earlier on in the week. The expansion Sylvan Lake Gulls clinched second place with four-straight convincing wins over the third-place Bulls. Heading into the final weekend, there was a chance that the Prospects could catch the Bulls if they won their remaining games and Lethbridge went winless. However, that dream was put to rest during the nightcap of Saturday’s “Baseball Day in Canada.”

That means Dawgs Black will meet the Prospects in the semi-finals while the Gulls face the Bulls.

Okotoks Dawgs Black (1) vs. Edmonton Prospects (4)

Game 1 – Monday August 16th – 7:05pm in Okotoks – get tickets here
Game 2 – Tuesday August 17th – 7:05pm in Sherwood Park – get tickets here
Game 3 (if necessary) – Wednesday August 18th – 7:05pm in Okotoks

Preview: The season series between Dawgs Black and the Prospects got off to a high-scoring start with the Prospects winning 24-10 on June 23rd. However, the league’s top regular season team found its stride in winning seven of the remaining nine matchups with their northern rivals. The “Baseball Day in Canada” double-header provided fans with a preview of the playoff series, with the Prospects winning the opener and Dawgs Black holding on to capture the night-cap.

Sylvan Lake Gulls (2) vs. Lethbridge Bulls (3)

Game 1 – Monday August 16th – 7:05pm in Sylvan Lake – get tickets here
Game 2 – Tuesday August 17th – 7:05pm in Lethbridge – get tickets here
Game 3 (if necessary) – Wednesday August 18th – 7:05 in Sylvan Lake

Preview: The two teams didn’t meet for the first time until July 9th, so they have really gotten to know each other well over the last six weeks. The Gulls and Bulls are actually coming off finishing off the season with four-straight games against one another. If those games were any indication, the Gulls will be happy with the matchup, as they won all four of those games by a combined score of 47-8. The Bulls did have some early success against the Gulls though, including a 7-0 win in that first meeting. Overall, the Gulls won eight of their ten games against the Bulls. While the Gulls led the league in home runs, the Bulls were tops in runs scored.

The WCBL Championship Series will be held August 20th-22nd.