The Pierre Trappers didn’t score until the top of the ninth in game four of the Expedition League Series, but they trailed just 2-1 and would strand the bases loaded as the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs won for its back-to-back Expedition League titles.
Ben Newbart and Chris Monroe had back to back singles in the bottom of the third to score the two Sabre Dogs run in the ballgame which proved to be enough to get the win. Jacob Griffin was able to reach on a two out error to score Pierre’s only run in the top of the ninth. Pierre native Jack Van Camp went three innings in his final start at Hyde Stadium giving up three hits, two runs, three walks and three strikeouts. Van Camp threw 70 pitches in his final outing of the year. Pierre nearly finished a comeback which would have been back to back losses for the Sabre Dogs for the first time all season, but Souris Valley finishes the year 32-2 while the Trappers finish the year at 13-26.
Steve Wagner, owner of the league, congratulated the Sabre Dogs on the championship, but there was no trophy given at Hyde Stadium.
Jamy Habeger, manager of the Pierre Trappers says the Trappers fought throughout the series…
When the Sabre Dogs flexed their muscles throughout much of the season when they took an early lead, Habeger credits the team chemistry staying in every ballgame…
Habeger says he enjoyed the summer with the team and is leaving them with the same message he started the season, to “control the controllables”…
It was the first playoff series the Trappers had participated in, in its five year existence in the Expedition League. The Sabre Dogs are the only back-to-back champions.
