Back on Sunday, July 25th the Coteau Hills Baseball League season came to an end after a one game playoff between the Elrose Aces and Outlook Riverhawks.

Outlook managed to defeat Elrose 7-1 at home to take the win and celebrate in front of their reinvigorated fan base. The resurrected league was started as a way to get the more southern group of teams a baseball season after organizers with the Fertile Valley Baseball League canceled any hopes of a season, and it finished as a major-league success that could possibly result in more teams coming back to the valley next year.

The Coteau Hill’s standings feature usual FVBL members in the aforementioned finals opponents, the Rosetown Angels, Beechy Breakers, and the Kyle Yellowjackets. Also included are two upstart teams out of Dinsmore, and the Riverhurst Raiders out of the pandemic-suspended Dunning Baseball League.

(Elrose Aces Diamond via @Acesball on Twitter)

The Aces met the Riverhawks in the finals after both teams exploded offensively to eliminate their semi-finals opponent. Elrose defeated the higher seeded Dinsmore Seniors 15-2, and the Outlook Riverhawks took it to the Riverhurst Raiders 18-8 to secure their spot in the championship.

A short break led to the eventual 7-1 final on Sunday, and a great chance for the fans in Outlook to celebrate their teams accomplishment. Riverhawks player Jordan Rolleston talked about how ball has been back in the community for a few years now, and they were happy to reward their fans with the championship win.

“It’s been three years since ball has been back in Outlook after a 30 year break I’m being told. We are getting lots of good crowds out and I’ve heard there are lots of good crowds all over this year,” said Rolleston, “Everyone was looking for something to do, its seemed to get a lot of communities out, and it’s good to see baseball back in the area for sure.”

As is the problem with many senior teams the level of commitment seen was a potential problem early, but the Riverhawks battled through it to sit middle of the table, and turn it on down the stretch to finish playoffs strong.

Rolleston says it was a pretty strong team effort all the way through, and that by the end everyone was playing enough to warrant their spot. This all came together for a Coteau Hills title, and some newfound excitement for Outlook.

“We definitely have one of the bigger followings in the league probably,” said Rolleston, “Lots of kids out watching ball, and its kind of revived baseball in town for the younger age groups, our numbers are going up quite a bit. It’s good for the town.”

This years championship helped once again uncover the passion Outlook has for baseball, leaving the players and fans excited for next year, no matter what league them and their counterparts decide to join.