The stage has been set for the Moose Jaw Miller Express for the 2022 Western Canadian Baseball League Playoffs.

For first-year coach Eric Marriott, this season had its ups and downs but says it’s very special to lead a very talented team into the playoffs for the first time in two years.

“I think it’s exciting, the towns coming out and the fans have been better than ever and it should be very exciting going into playoffs,” says Marriott.

They will go into the playoffs with the #2 seed in the east division, and their first-round opponent will be the #3 seed Swift Current 57s in a three-game series starting on Monday at Ross Wells Park.

“We’re going in with the exact same attitude, is to go in there and play our game, the game that we’ve played all year. They’re not going to take us lightly and they’re going to come for us being the higher seed, and hopefully, we can move on to the second round of playoffs. I can’t remember the last time the Millers have done so.”

Moose Jaw has gotten the best of the 57s this season posting an 8-4 record against their east division rivals.

As they have done all season, the Express will rely on their bullpen to keep them in games, with their offense putting games away.

“I expect guys like Kellan Voggesser and Reece Helland to carry the load for us both as leaders and on the field in terms of their play and hopefully they give us a shot.”

“Our offense is lethal, to say the least. I wouldn’t want to be an opposing pitcher, we got Zach Campbell setting the tone every game at the top, and then Parker Dorrance, Nate Mensik, Bryan Reyes, Luke Shekeryk, Cam Grant, Austin Gurney, and Michael Speck. With our offense, we’re a bloop and a blast away from coming back in any game. We extend leads pretty often. I would say we have one of the best offenses in the league.”

In the other east division matchup, it will be the #1 seed Regina Red Sox taking on the #4 seed Medicine Hat Mavericks.