The midget AA St. Albert Cardinals continue their quest for a Tier I provincial three-peat this weekend at Henry Singer Ball Park in Spruce Grove.
Today's game times are 9 a.m. against the host Parkland Twins (11-7) and 6 p.m. against the Black Gold Giants (13-5) of Leduc.
Friday's score in the tournament opener between the Cardinals (16-2) and Whitecourt Angels (8-9) was unavailable at press time.
If there are no tiebreakers, Sunday's crossover semifinals in the eight-team draw are 9 a.m. and noon and the final is 3 p.m.
The winner advances to the U18 westerns, Aug. 18 to 20 at Kamloops.
Camrose Cougars Royal (13-5), Camrose Cougars Red (13-7), Lacombe Dodgers (12-6) and Drayton Valley Giants (10-8) are also competing at provincials.
Visit www.baseballalberta.com or www.stalbertbaseball.com for updates.
The Cardinals are 25-8-2 overall with four returning players from last year's western gold medallists that finished 50-6-1.
The 2016 Cardinals also equalled the Baseball Alberta record held by Lacombe (2006-07) for the most midget AA championships in a row since the inception of the division in 1989.
Two years ago, the Cardinals won the first St. Albert midget AA provincial championship since 1997 and at westerns the Red Birds were silver medallists while going 46-9 overall.
The Cardinals also hosted the last two U18 western tournaments.
The St. Albert Cardinals swing into action today at the six-team Baseball Alberta junior AAA championship at Callingwood Park.
The Cardinals (10-11) are up to bat against the Innisfail Merchants (13-7) at 9 a.m. and Slave Lake Heat (14-8) at 3 p.m. in pool play.
If no tiebreakers are required Sunday, the 9 a.m. consolation game will feature the third-place teams in both pools, followed by the crossover semifinals at noon and 3 p.m. and the final is 6 p.m.
The winner advances to the U21 westerns, Aug. 11 to 13 at Brandon.
Visit www.baseballalberta.com or www.stalbertbaseball.com for the provincial schedule.
The South Jasper Place Jays (17-5), Fort Saskatchewan Red Sox (13-10) and Calgary North (4-18) are also competing at provincials.
The Jays are the defending champions and Slave Lake was the 2015 winner.
The Cardinals finished fifth in their first season in the seven-team Baseball Alberta junior AAA circuit after closing out league play with six wins in their last 10 games.
