Fourpeat: Giants’ dynasty continues

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This article was published 16/08/2021 (1812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE sounds of celebration and champagne bottles clanging were heard long into the night at Elmwood’s Koskie Field Monday as a dynasty continued its glorious run.

The Elmwood Giants have cemented themselves as the organization to beat in the Manitoba Junior Baseball League as they won their fourth MJBL title in a row and sixth in the last eight years.

The Giants defeated the Pembina Valley Orioles 10-0 via mercy rule in five innings. Ed Kulyk, Giants general manager, has built a solid core of players over the past decade and Monday he saw his team maintain its championship spirit.

“I’m speechless right now, it was a goal of ours after last year, coming into this year we had the same goal,” said Kulyk.

“We got it now and it’s pretty sweet.”

With an almost identical roster from 2020, Kulyk says his 2021 Giants campaign went smoothly. Going 16-1-1 in 18 regular-season games, the Elmwood club was in prime position to defend its title and the GM says winning last year fuelled their passion this season.

“It was pretty easy because they wanted it, they were hungry and they knew what it felt like last year,” said Kulyk.

“Especially for a couple of the first-year guys and they fed off of everybody.”

After a quiet first two innings, with the score tied at zero, Owen Harms cranked a three-run blast to right, bringing home Riley Trager and Riley Craw. The Giants shortstop was sitting on a 3-1 count and said he could feel the intensity rising before the pitch.

“That was awesome, it was fun, it’s just one of those things you hit and it just feels good and you kind of know,” said Harms.

Tyler Smith, the Giants starter, was at a loss for words.

“It feels pretty good, this is my second championship with the Elmwood Giants, we have a really solid team and I’m just glad to be a part of them, I’m speechless right now,” said Smith.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Garrett Graham capped a big inning with a three-run homer and the Giants notched an additional run to invoke the mercy rule.

“Two things — pitching and one through nine. As you saw today we had guys, six-hole, seven-hole and eight-hole with clutch home runs. It’s just unbelievable,” said Kulyk.

Harms and Trager have their names etched in championship glory four times with the Elmwood club as they finish their senior years. They are two of the seven seniors on the team. Both are proud to have served the team for four seasons.

“Fighting with the guys all year long, there’s no quit, just going all the time and just always attacking with everything we’ve got,” said Harms.

“It feels great to do it with these boys, especially having been with them for four years now,” said Trager.

“When we were down, someone else got back up and picked us up and that was it. Just winning it with the boys, that’s all.”

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Kulyk took the time to survey family and friends in attendance at Koskie Field and as he cracked a can of Bud Light, he shared what makes the club that dates back to 1905 so special.

“The Giants name. It’s an honour to put this Giants jersey on and the kids understand that and they respect the game, their uniform and come out and play Giants baseball,” said Kulyk.

jbernacki@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @JosephBernacki