Three members of the Weyburn Midget Beavers returned home Tuesday after a disappointing trip with Team Saskatchewan to the Baseball Canada Cup in Stonewall, Man.

Landon Emberley, Mike Larson and Bevan Ledingham joined Team Saskatchewan shortly after ending their Regina Optimist League playoffs Aug. 15.

Emberley, who made his second consecutive trip to the national tournament, performed well at the plate throughout the tournament, compiling a .267 batting average, going 4-for-15 through five games.

The disappointing team performance was doubly tough this time around for Emberley as it was his final chance to play in the tournament.

"It was definitely more disappointing this year. I though we had a better team," explained Emberley after returning home Aug. 28.

Although he wasn't able to experience any team success, Emberley shined through to Team Canada scouts and received an invitation to attend their training camp next spring in Florida.

He says knowing what to expect from last year's tournament paid off at the plate but he still has a lot of work to do if he has any hopes of netting himself a spot on Team Canada in 2001.

"I knew going in what the pitching was like. I just tried to relax and didn't get to high on my hitting," says Emberley. "But there is still a lot of baseball left. I've got to work really hard (through the winter)."

Normally a shortstop, Emberley will need to adjust to either second or third base to fit with Team Canada.

Larson, who was named the Regina Optimist League MVP days before joining the team, expected to add consistently to the middle of Team Saskatchewan's batting-order but struggled going 3-for-12, with one RBI for an .250 average.

"I got plenty of playing time but I didn't hit as well as I wanted to," says Larson, who admitted his nerves may have got the best of him early in the tournament. "There was a little more pressure to perform."

The trio, along with the rest of the Saskatchewan side, also struggled on the mound.

After a shut-out performance in his tournament debut, Ledingham was hit hard by B.C. giving up three runs on two hits in another inning of work. Ledingham finished the tournament with a 13.5 ERA while allowing four hits and two walks and striking out three in two innings of work.

After only appearing in two innings out of the set-up role, Ledingham came away from the tournament still waiting to get his shot.

"Personally it wasn't the best for me developmentally," said Ledingham. "It is disappointing. I didn't get a chance to show them what I could do - you don't much opportunity to show yourself in two innings."

With one of the tournament's toughest draws, Team Saskatchewan took on Team Ontario in both teams' tournament opener. A two-run first inning proved to be all Ontario would need as they went on to an 8-1 victory.

With one perennial favourite in Ontario past them, the field continued to toughen as B.C. formed the opposition. Tied at one through three and a half innings, B.C. took control of the opening round game and went on to a 9-2 win.

With a 0-2 record Saskatchewan turned its focus to Nova Scotia in a game they needed to win. Although their pitchers were doing their job, Saskatchewan couldn't get their bats going and were shut-out in the 3-0 final.

After jumping out to an early 2-1 lead in Game 4, Quebec rallied back against Saskatchewan to hand them their fourth consecutive loss 14-7.

Trying to salvage a win on their way out of the tournament Team Saskatchewan faced neighboring Manitoba. After the first inning things seemed as though they were going to repeat themselves when Saskatchewan found themselves down 3-0. But a six-run second inning put them on top to claim their first victory of the tournament with a 13-6 win.

In the tournament finale team B.C. captured the Midget Baseball Canada Cup as they downed Team Quebec 9-5. Team Ontario rounded out the top three with a convincing 16-4 win over Team P.E.I.

The 1-4 record will have a lasting effect on Saskatchewan baseball. After dropping out of the A pool this year, Team Saskatchewan will have a tough hill to climb in the next few years.