The Weyburn Midget Beavers made it all the way to the finals of the recent Regina Optimist Tournament, June 28 to July 1, before losing out to the Saskatoon Giants.

The Beavers were among 12 teams in the tournament. Weyburn started off their run with a game versus the Regina Braves on Saturday, where they netted a 4-1 victory.

Two runs came in the second as Josh Williams singled and Bucky Schneider walked to get on base, and were then brought home off RBI singles from Troy Miller and Gerad Fox.

The Beavers scored twice more that game. In the third inning, Braden Messer was hit by a pitch and Devin Ledingham doubled for an RBI. In the fifth, Ledingham singled and Schneider tripled for the final RBI.

Ryan Thompson put in a strong pitching performance for the Beavers, and was named MVP of the game.

The Beavers then suffered a 9-4 loss to the Saskatoon Cubs. All of the Beavers' runs came in the first three innings, started off by Mat Larson, who scored on an error in the second, and an RBI from Troy Miller.

In the third, Schneider singled and stole home, while Messer doubled, giving Ledingham the RBI.

Down by four runs, the Cubs then rallied and stole the game away with seven runs in the fourth. The Beavers were unable to score again.

On June 29, the Beavers played the Regina Pacers, winning 12-9.

Ben Shugart walked to start off the first, followed by Bucky Schneider running to first on an error. Justin Richter and Ledingham then got RBIs.

In the third inning, Ledingham scored another RBI. Williams walked, while Miller singled for the RBI.

Ryan Thompson and Tyler Vargo singled, giving Vargo the RBI. In the fourth, Schneider got on first on an error and scored on a passed ball, while Messer singled and got home on an error.

In the fifth, Vargo got to first on an error, while Shugart and Schneider doubled for RBIs. Larson singled for two RBIs after Ledingham walked.

Pitchers were Messer, Clinton Griffiths, Williams and Ledingham. Larson was named MVP of the game.

The win enabled the Beavers to finish second in their pool. On June 30, Weyburn entered playoffs, with their first game being a 7-5 victory over the Regina A's.

In the first inning, Ledingham hit a two-run home run. In the second, Williams and Miller singled, and Thompson was hit by pitch to load the bases.

Shugart then singled for an RBI, and Schneider was hit by a pitch for another. Finally, Ledingham singled for another two RBIs, for a total of four runs.

The Beavers scored once more in the fourth, as Schneider and Ledingham singled for another run. Pitchers were Griffiths and Ledingham, who was named MVP.

Weyburn then moved onto the Saskatoon Giants, whom they defeated 11-6. The Beavers opened the game with seven straight runs; things started off as Shugart, Schneider, Messer and Ledingham all singled, giving RBIs to Messer and Ledingham.

Williams and Miller then singled, with Miller being credited with two RBIs. Richter and Dale Logel then walked, with Logel getting another RBI.

In the third, Messer doubled, Ledingham singled and Larson got the RBI. In the fourth, Miller singled and scored on an error.

Pitchers were Thompson and Parker Cameron. The MVP player of the game was Messer.

The Beavers were at the top of their pool in the playoff round as they entered the semi-final against Swift Current on July 1, which they won 14-1.

Weyburn got off to another good start with all 14 runs in the first three innings. Shugart, Schneider and Messer started things off by each hitting a single, followed by Shugart scoring on an error.

Ledingham singled for another RBI, while Williams, Miller and Cameron all singled and then scored on errors, with Williams being credited with another error.

In the second, Messer walked to base, followed by singles from Ledingham and Larson, who got two RBIs. Miller and Cameron also singled to load the bases.

Thompson and Shugart both walked, getting two RBIs, and Messer singled for another two runs.

In the third, Larson singled and Williams walked, setting up Miller and Thompson to single and bring in both RBIs.

Pitching a strong game for the Beavers was Ledingham. Shugart was named MVP.

The Beavers then moved to the finals, where they faced off with the Giants. Their earlier success against the Saskatoon Giants wasn't repeated this time around, however, as Weyburn lost 15-9.

In the first inning, Shugart tripled, giving Schneider an RBI. The Beavers got five runs in the fifth, starting with Cameron getting hit by a pitch and Thompson singling. Shugart then doubled for another two RBIs.

Schneider reached first on an error, and Ledingham knocked in another RBI. Larson then doubled for another run, while Williams singled for the final run of the inning.

The Giants then rallied for another four runs, raising the score to 7-6. Weyburn managed another two runs in the fifth as Messer singled and stole home, and Cameron hit an RBI single.

In the sixth, Weyburn's final run came as Thompson and Richter walked, followed by Messer singling for an RBI. The Giants also scored six runs that inning to win the game.

Pitching a complete game was Larson.

Ledingham was awarded the Golden Glove award from the tournament, for best exemplifying sportsmanship, skills and enthusiasm for the game.

The Beavers will be in Saskatoon from July 11-13.