(rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

By Ian Gustafson

Regina victory

Sylvan Lake Gulls fall in WCBL championship series

Aug 18, 2025 | 12:55 PM

The Sylvan Lake Gulls season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday night.

They fell 5-4 to the Regina Red Sox at Gulls Stadium in a deciding Game 3 to lose the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) championship series.

Gulls head coach and general manager Jason Chatwood said despite the outcome, his team battled until the very end.

“I’m proud of them,” he said following the series. “We had some opportunities and a couple chances where I wish we would of executed a little bit better on but they played so hard. They represented our organization as good as they could have.”

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By the third inning, the Gulls faced a 3-0 deficit and couldn’t seem to gather any momentum in the batter’s box.

However, in the fifth inning, the Gulls bats came alive to tie the game at three. They then took a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning but it was short lived after the Red Sox hammered in two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

The Red Sox held on to the 5-4 lead to win the best-of-three championship series, despite multiple close calls where the Gulls nearly tied it.

This included a powerful hit to deep centre field in the bottom of the ninth inning by Gulls Simon Baker that most likely would have brought in the tying run from second base if it got through. Instead, the Regina outfielder made the catch for the final out of the game.

“We were a pitch away one game and then we were a swing away tonight. I mean Baker hit that ball as hard as he could hit it but the wind held it up,” Chatwood added. “We did everything we could of done but you just have to tip your cap to Regina. They played a really good series and put some pressure on us. It was a hard fought series by both sides.”

After finishing second in the division standings, the Gulls went on to defeat the Lethbridge Bulls and Okotoks Dawgs en route to the franchise’s first-ever appearance in the WCBL championship series.

Sylvan Lake walked away with a 3-2 Game 1 victory over the Red Sox in Regina on Thursday but lost Game 2 on Friday night at home after a ninth inning comeback by the Red Sox.

“We’ll get our chance someday. It stings right now but sometimes you’ve got to lose before you can get over that hump and win it,” Chatwood said.

Late in the year, the Gulls announced Chatwood would step down as head coach of the club after the conclusion of the season. However, he will remain as general manager of the club and will be heavily involved in recruitment. He will also serve as an assistant coach.

Chatwood said on Saturday they have a “pretty good idea” on who will replace him as head coach but plan on announcing it at a later date.

“I feel like we’re in a really great spot as a franchise and I’m looking forward to the future. We’re going to continue to grow.”