The Original 16 Cash League might have made it through the first round without seeing the usual slate of big upsets, but things were far different in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.
Two of the league’s top-four teams were knocked from contention, with sixth-seed John’s Music and Ryan Wenarchuk surprising Matt Froehlich in the biggest upset of the night.
It was anything but easy for Wenarchuk, though, as he needed a pair of big ends late in the game to secure the win. The teams were tied 2-2 through three ends when Wenarchuk stole a pair to take the lead, but Froehlich would get that back and then some with a three-spot in the fifth for a 5-4 edge. Wenarchuk took control from there, though, replying with three of his own in the sixth and tacking on a steal of two the following frame to bring things to an early completion.
A big end made all the difference in the other upset on the night, as fifth-seed KMS Construction’s Ben Gamble took a 6-4 win over fourth-seed Dustin Woloschuk and KalTire. Gamble did almost all the damage he’d need to do in the second end, as a four-spot gave his rink a quick 4-0 lead. Woloschuk got one back in the third, but a Gamble deuce in the fifth made it a 6-1 lead. Woloschuk closed ground with points the next two ends but would run out of rocks in the eighth.
Things weren’t as close in the contest between defending champion and top-seed BTN Chartered Accountants and Pups Parlour. Penny Barker and her undefeated crew scored four in the second end and stole four in the third for a quick 8-1 lead over Jaedon Miller, and after the teams exchanged single points the next two ends, the rinks shook hands.
The other quarter-final saw Protec Studios’ Tyler Krupski score points in three straight ends to take a 6-2 win over Rod Montgomery. Krupski picked up single points in the second and third ends before stealing four in the fourth for an 8-0 lead. Montgomery got two back in the fifth, but the teams would call it a night,
The consolation games saw R.K. Sunview’s Dayne Heisler -- fresh off his appearance in mixed doubles curling in the Saskatchewan Winter Games -- pick up his first win of the season with an 11-2 victory over Joe Gunnis and EMJ Marketing. A four-spot in the second end gave Heisler a 5-0 lead, and leading 5-2 through four, he’d tack on two more in the fifth and four in the sixth to secure the win.
The other game on the night saw Pro-Tec Electric and Stan Barnsley battle to a 6-3 win over Fountain Tire’s Barry Silk. Tied 2-2 through two ends, Barnsley stole one in the third and three in the fourth to go up 6-2. Silk got one back in the fifth but would shake hands.
The Original 16 Cash League semifinals will see BTN Chartered Accountants taking on KMS Construction and John’s Music facing Protec Studios.
League action continues every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.
