Sean Williams/MDN Head coach Michael Keeran and Sabre Dogs teammates looking on in a game at Corbett Field earlier this season

Perfection in baseball is something that is impossible to achieve. Even teams at the highest level have a difficult time going about their business in a perfect manner. If perfection was easy, the sport wouldn’t view a productive hitter as someone who has success in 30 percent of their at-bats.

While the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs did not end their 2022 season with a perfect record, their achievements on and off the field were about as close as you can get to perfection, finishing the year with a 30-1 regular season record and winning back-to-back Expedition League championships.

Since Expedition League play began in 2018, there has been only one team to win back-to-back titles and with the Sabre Dogs championship clinching win on Sunday, they accomplished that feat, putting their name and the Magic City in the record books as the stand-alone consecutive champions.

Even though the team posted a remarkable 30-1 record, breaking through and winning the title again wasn’t that easy. Sure, the Sabre Dogs have an incredibly talented roster and a head coach in Michael Keeran who has a history of winning. However, even the most talented teams struggle to win championships and in the game of baseball, a lot must go right for sustainable success.

Throughout the regular season, the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs looked like a squad that was ready to make history through a complete team effort. They finished the regular season with a .369 team batting average, 43 home runs, 1.91 team ERA, and had a winning streak that exceeded 20 games.

With all the success the Sabre Dogs had this season, there was a moment where it seemed like their hard work and determination could be all for nothing. When the Red River Pilots coach resigned and the North Iowa Ragin’ Roosters team folded, the remainder of the Expedition League season was in jeopardy.

Fortunately, the Sabre Dogs got their opportunity to finish the mission when it was announced they would face the Pierre Trappers in the Expedition League Championship Series (ELCS). The team had extended time off due to the unexpected circumstances, but that did not stop them from finishing what they started.

Winning the ELCS after dealing with lengthy time off, constant changes, and a murky outlook on the season goes to show that the Sabre Dogs are more than just talent on the diamond. Head coach Michael Keeran himself, and the rest of the Sabre Dogs players are a group of high-character, resilient young men who earned the right to be called champions.

During the ELCS, the Sabre Dogs quickly jumped out to a 2-0 series lead over the Trappers. However, it wasn’t their typical style of winning as the Trappers kept the games close and even stole a win on Saturday, making it a 2-1 series lead heading into Sunday.

On Sunday, Coach Keeran gave the starting nod to right-hander Joel Barker, who made his fourth start of the season. Barker faced the Trappers once during regular season play, where he tossed four scoreless innings, while allowing one hit, no walks, two strikeouts, and held the Trappers to a miniscule .077 batting average while facing him.

Coming out of the gate, Barker struggled with control as he allowed the first batter to reach base via a walk. Barker, however, settled in immediately and went on to retire the next eight batters he faced before Jackson Mix tagged him for a single in the top of the third inning.

Looking to bounce back at the plate, the Sabre Dogs put two men on in the bottom of the first, but an inning-ending double play cancelled the scoring opportunity. The second time through the order, however, the bats rewarded Barker by breaking the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third.

Hunter Delanoy reached after being hit by a pitch and came around to score on an error due to a misread on a Ben Newbert single, making it a 1-0 lead for the Sabre Dogs. On the error, Newbert advanced to third which proved to be costly for the Trappers, as Chris Monroe singled to bring home Newbert, extending the Sabre Dogs lead to 2-0.

Following the third inning, both teams went quiet. It wasn’t until the sixth inning that the Trappers put together a scoring opportunity. A single and a walk put two runners on with only one out. Barker, however, continued his display of not being afraid to attack opposing hitters by filling up the strike zone and escaping the jam unscathed.

Through eight innings of work, Barker only allowed two runners to reach second base. He was handed the ball with an opportunity to help the Sabre Dogs make history and he succeeded in his role. Barker finished his day throwing eight innings, allowing four hits, no runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. His gutsy performance earned him the win on the mound.

In dramatic fashion, the Trappers brought one run home in the top of the ninth inning and loaded the bases with two outs as they trailed the Sabre Dogs 2-1. Ethan Swanson entered the game in the ninth, looking to seal the deal. Swanson rose to the occasion, getting a strikeout looking to end it and bring the championship back home to Minot.

For the Trappers, their error in the third inning that helped give the Sabre Dogs two runs was the difference in the game. Overall, the Trappers played well in the ELCS, however, when playing against a team like the Sabre Dogs, you must limit your mistakes and the mistake in the third proved to be a turning point as the Sabre Dogs made them pay for it.

Thanks to the leadership of coach Keeran, strong pitching, and timely hitting, the Sabre Dogs were able to maneuver through the speed bumps of the 2022 season and achieve their shared goal of winning the Expedition League championship by beating the Trappers in a 2-1 ballgame on Sunday.

During the ELCS, the Sabre Dogs experienced some of the closest games they’ve been through all season. Since the team is used to beating its opponents pretty easily, how they would handle close games and pressure is an unseen situation for the squad. However, in the ELCS, they proved that they are more than just a powerful, intimidating force. They demonstrated that they are a complete team from top to bottom that simply knows how to win ballgames.

With 2022 being the last Sabre Dogs season, the music can be cut as the last dance is officially over. The dance, however, was a memorable one as the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs final game is one that will place the team in the record books by winning back-to-back Expedition League titles.

Even though they will no longer be playing, and a new league will be coming to Minot next year, the 2022 Souris Valley Sabre Dogs are a team that will be remembered for a long, long time.