The Medicine Hat Major AAA Mavs are headed to nationals after winning the provincial title. Photo Credit: Medicine Hat Little League

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Major AAA Mavs heading to Canadian Little League Championship

Jul 26, 2024 | 5:10 PM

A chance to represent Canada at the Little League World Series will be on the line for the Medicine Hat Major AAA Mavs.

The team of players aged 12 and under will travel to Kingston, Ont., on Sunday to take part in the 10-day Canadian Little League Championship.

Head Coach Steven Russell says this was a team goal, but not something they had time to think about until winning provincials.

“You’re so immersed within those games to win those games down to the last at bat, last strike each game,” Russell said.

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“Once it’s done now, that whole emotion and everything else is flooded in and the planning and everything else,” he added.

“Now, you really truly feel a representative of Alberta team and that’s exciting going into it, I think we have a real opportunity.”

Russell said the opportunity the team has to go to national is a big deal.

“It’s every kid’s dream is to have that opportunity, these kids have done it. So we’ll let it all all on the line and see what happens,” Russell said.

That final out took place in Calgary on Wednesday night against a Calgary West team the Mavs had to beat twice, after losing to them earlier in the tournament.

They won game one 5-4, before taking game two by a 8-6 score.

The last time a Medicine Hat Little League team represented Canada wasn’t too long ago.

In 2019, Medicine Hat took home the national junior little league championship.

READ: Canadian gold: Medicine Hat All Stars headed to Junior Little League World Series

Looking to book a trip to Williamsport, Penn. right after nationals will be the goal for these young baseball players. They are quite excited to be heading to Nationals.

Player Gavin Russell had trouble closing his eyes.

“Well the night I won both those two games I couldn’t sleep,” Gavin said.

“That’s how excited I was to go to Ontario. I think we all know that we had to win these two games to go to Ontario and we did it.”

Player Reid Pluta is excited for the whole experience.

“It’s pretty exciting, cause like you get to go on a plane to go play baseball and like stay in college dorms,” Pluta said.

Player Daxton Simpson was beaming with excitement.

“Well it’s pretty amazing. Honestly. We are really excited to go there and play some ball,” Simpson said.

The first game for Team Alberta at the 2024 Canadian Little League Championship will be Tuesday afternoon against British Columbia.