Would you agree with that compared to what happened last year? You really didn't have much in the way of adversity going into the postseason?

Yeah, adversity is always good.

I mean, you define a person the way they respond to stuff, and when things get hard, how they respond to that, and there were some bumps this year, and things were hard, and every time we had that, the guys responded, and just their work ethic all year, their attitudes every day never changed, and it was just a really fun group to be with.

That was probably close to a darn perfect game by this team tonight.

Yeah, I mean, there were some times during that game where they had some chances and stuff, and Merrick did a good job there getting over a couple jams, and even early on, we left some guys on, we could have some big innings early on, and their guy got us some jams, and then we got, you know, we had that big five-run inning there.

As an elite coming here to Saskatoon for a brand-new expansion franchise, what's it mean for you to get your first WCBL championship in the city? It's awesome.

I don't know if it was really a leap or anything.

Once talking to Hilti and his vision, it's pretty much a no-brainer.

Well, what are some of those things, Joe, that you bring into the clubhouse when a new guy arrives and go, "Okay, this is what we do here"? How do you scr- describe the culture that you're trying to set, uh, for a franchise in Saskatoon?

Well, the big thing is just, uh, when we're recruiting guys, just recruiting good people.

Obviously you want good baseball players, but it's equally important to have good people and, and guys who kind of buy into what we are doing.

You know, we do a lot of stuff in the community.

Uh, we don't just show up at the field and, you know, play a game.

We do a bunch of early work and, and get some work in and, and that type of stuff.

So you want guys that fit that and, and guys that just enjoy baseball, 'cause it's a lot of, you know, it's a lot of games over a short period of time and, and, uh, you know, when you find a big group like this that all enjoys the game and, and just good people, then that's when, that's when good things happen

So how do you address a team last night after the win knowing, "Hey, you might be out tomorrow morning"? Uh, like what's that moment like to celebrate, but also knowing, "Hey, these are the last minutes that we're gonna be together as a group"?

What are some of those things, Joe, that you bring into the clubhouse when a new guy arrives and go, okay, this is what we do here? How do you describe the culture that you're trying to set for a franchise in Saskatoon?

Well, the big thing is just when we're recruiting guys, just recruiting good people.

Obviously, you want good baseball players, but it's equally important to have good people and guys who kind of buy into what we are doing.

We do a lot of stuff in the community.

We don't just show up at the field and play a game.

We do a bunch of early work and get some work in and that type of stuff.

So you want guys that fit that.

So how do you address a team last night after the win, knowing, hey, you might be out tomorrow morning? What's that moment like to celebrate, but also knowing, hey, these are the last minutes that we're going to be together as a group?

What's your message to the guys to maybe calm some of the nerves and make sure that they're still focusing on the task at hand?

Just keep playing the game.

I mean, you know, there's, We play so many games in a short period of time in the summer.

Things aren't always going to go right.

And throughout this year, we've had good, bad, and different.

Everything happened, every scenario.

So, I mean, we've been in a lot of different situations.

Final question for you here, coach, what would it mean to you to win a WCBL championship here in 2026? No, it'd

Okay, what is the biggest thing an organization in the WCBL needs to have success as quickly and consistently as the Berries have had? Aside, of course, from having an excellent manager.

No, the big thing is you just have to treat your players well.

Treat your players well.

Give them the resources to stay healthy.

As an organization, don't cut corners with stuff and and just treat the players well, create an environment and a culture that's going to be successful.

And, you know, and like our group, what our group does a great job too is getting in the community, and we have a very good community following, and the city backs us.

And, yeah, just kind of a little bit of everything.

And what's that like to be a part of?