For four players on the Regina, Saskatchewan, baseball team representing Canada at this year’s Senior League World Series, Wednesday’s 5-2 victory over Asia Pacific champion Makati City, Philippines, was a welcome relief.

Brett Barth, Taylor Cameron Kyle Richardson, and Matt Strueby all were part of the 2002 Regina National Little League team that played in the Little League World Series for 11- and 12-year-olds at Williamsport, Pa.

And while reaching that pinnacle of youth baseball was a major accomplishment, the players were left feeling a little bittersweet by coming up empty in three competitive pool games.

That Canadian team dropped its opener to Saudi Arabia 3-2 in extra innings, then lost to Venezuela 9-3 despite limiting the Latin America champs to just four hits. In its final game of pool play, Regina took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning before Guam erupted for 12 runs en route to a stunning 12-7 victory.

This year’s experience started in similar fashion. The Canadians were no-hit by Bangor’s Jordan Clarke in a 3-0 loss to open pool play, then played a competitive game against one of the pretournament favorites, Pearl City, Hawaii, before losing a 7-3 decision on Tuesday.

Those frustrations made Wednesday’s victory all the more satisfying.

“We had close games when we played at Williamsport just like we’ve had this year, so it’s good to finally get that first win,” said Richardson, who pitched a six-hitter against Makati City.

“We were in the World Series in 2002 and didn’t get a win, so this is wonderful,” added Barth. “This shows us that we can do it.”

That Regina has returned to a World Series four years after its trip to Williamsport shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Regina also qualified for the Canadian championship tournament last summer after winning the Prairies regional and went 1-4 in pool play – with three of those losses by a frustrating three runs apiece.

“We came close last year,” said Barry Richardson, Kyle’s father and manager of the both the 2002 Regina LLWS team and this year’s Senior League contingent. “When we got to the Canadian championships last year, that let the kids know that they had a chance to get back this year, and the four guys who had played in Williamsport really focused on leading the rest of the kids.”

And now they have a World Series win to show for that effort.

“Maybe it shows Canadian baseball is on the upswing,” said Barry Richardson.

Offerman just wants to give back

Eugene Offerman has a few weeks off before he has to report to Binghamton University in New York.

With his spare time, Offerman decided to travel to Bangor, bunk with his friend and former teammate Curt Smith, and donate some of his time and linguistic skills to the Senior League World Series.

Offerman, who was a member of the 2002 Latin America team from Curacao that won the World Series, has been helping the team from Falcon, Venezuela, because the team doesn’t speak English. Offerman speaks Spanish, so he translates when he can.

“I was thinking that Curacao might get up here again,” he said. “But then they lost. After that I thought, a few years ago most of the guys didn’t speak English so I thought I would spend the rest of my summer as a volunteer, doing something and giving back, you know? And I love it up here. I get to come back and watch the kids play.”

He did a little translating Tuesday afternoon when the Venezuela manager logged a protest over a substitution rule. Later he helped man the cash register at the souvenir stand. In between he ate a bowl of ice cream while watching a game.

Offerman and current University of Maine standout Smith both played for the 2002 Curacao team. Like Smith, Offerman enjoyed his experience in Bangor so much that he decided to return.

He enrolled at Bangor Christian School for high school – he made the honor roll in the first quarter of 2003 – but left to go home to Curacao. Offerman completed his general equivalency diploma, spent two years at a junior college in Baltimore, and is now off to Binghamton to complete his college career.

Offerman said he was spotted by the Binghamton coaches while he was playing in a summer league in Rochester, N.Y.

Maine and Binghamton both play in the America East conference. Binghamton will travel to Orono for a series in 2007. He’s eager to play against Smith.

“I can’t wait for that,” said Offerman, who has two years of eligibility remaining.

Since Offerman returned to town this summer he has been mistaken for Smith, but it doesn’t bother him.

“You know what bothers me? People mistake me for my brother,” Offerman said with a smile. “We don’t look anything alike. [Smith] is a good player, much better than my brother.”