The Medicine Hat Major AAA 12U Mavs are now one game away from winning the Canadian Little League Championship. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Major Mavs book ticket to Canadian Little League championship final

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The Medicine Hat Major AAA 12U Mavs are now one win away from representing Canada at the the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.

The Mavs, as Little League Alberta, won 6-0 over the host Kingston Colts Little League in a semi-final match up Wednesday morning.

Jake Czember pitched a complete game three hit shutout for the Mavs.

Head coach Steven Russell said Czember had also faced Kingston in the round robin.

“He started off I would think fairly good for what it was, but he ended up getting better throughout the game. So he’s able to throw a complete game, which was nice to have,” Russell said.

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“We were able to save a few more arms, some timely outs as always and were able to score when we needed to score,” he added.

“It ended up being the type of game we anticipated and hoped for and ultimately got.”

The Mavs have remained undefeated, winning seven straight games, six shutouts included. The team has outscored their opponents 55-3 over the course of the tournament.

Russell said he’s proud of everything the team has accomplished so far, with the players dialed in and focused on each and every game.

“We talked about that when we came here that you know, everything you’ve done, you’ve done. Not only have you represented, yourselves well, this team, this city, now this province. It sure would be a thing to be able to say and go on and represent the country of Canada, that would be unbelievable,” Russell said.

The Mavs will now face off against Little League B.C. in the final on Thursday at 12 p.m. EST/10 a.m. MST.

Russell said he knows they will be facing a different pitcher from Little League BC than they faced in the round robin, the Mavs winning that contest 2-0.

“They’re starting pitcher they threw against us pitched in the semi-finals against Ontario. So he’s ineligible to pitch,” Russell said.

“They have another lefty fireballer that’s going to be coming at us. I would say just as good if not better,” he added.

“Our bats are gonna have to be ready for that type of speed and off speed, but at the end of the day, I think for what it is if we can play defensively, make sure we take care of our own. These kids have a great opportunity tomorrow.”

Russell said this is the pinnacle of the little league experience.

“Somebody’s going to be moving on and you know somebody’s going to ultimately look at and say wow, what an unbelievable experience,” Russell said.

“These kids are going to give it their all I definitely know that and I know Medicine Hat is backing them 100 per cent and they feel that, they know that, and I just can’t wait to get to that game tomorrow.”