The Minnedosa Mavericks' 10-year dynasty ended in Portage la Prairie last night.

The Portage Padres are the 2016 Santa Clara Baseball League champions thanks to an 8-7 walk-off victory at Rotary Republic Park. The Mavericks got out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning off a couple of Padres errors, but Portage cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning. Portage added another run in the 5th to make it 4-3, but the Mavs stormed ahead with 3 runs in the top of the 7th.

A Portage rally began with a couple of singles on 2-outs, and Padres' Brodie Blight brought them within 1 with a 3-run home run. Portage continued to stay aggressive at the plate and Rob Moar added an RBI single to tie the game at 7. The Mavs' pitcher, feeling the heat, then hit back-to-back Padres' batters to bring in the final run. 

Dustin Donald says he was in the zone heading into his final at-bat.

"I was ready for it. Ever since I saw everyone coming up to the plate and we hit that 3 run bomb there, I was just waiting for my opportunity and it came. A hit-by-pitch isn't too special, but a win's a win and we'll take it."

Donald pitched all 7 innings and was thankful for the support from his defense in the 7th, where he stranded 3 Minnedosa base-runners. Padres' Brodie Blight says his first home run ever was a big one.

"All my life I was saving my only home run for this series. Just trying to think as little as possible, that's about it," he laughs.

Brodie Blight celebrates after his 3 run home run to cut the Mavs' lead to 1

The Padres have been playing for former teammate Chad Miller, who passed away suddenly in 2014. Padres' Rod McLeod says he'd be proud of what they've accomplished.

"He was here since the beginning and unfortunately, he passed away in 2014. So the last two years we've kind of been playing for him, so it's nice to get this championship. He's as much a part of this as everyone else, so it's really good."

Padres' Tyler Butler says they always wanted to be the ones to dethrone the Mavs.

"We felt the last two or three years we've had the chance to do it, we just haven't got to this point to have the chance and I think everybody was fired up that we finally had the chance to seal-the-deal."

Rod McLeod, League Director Gladwyn Scott, and Tyler Butler with the Trophy

McLeod adds, "Getting this team off the ground we needed a lot of people and a lot of parent support. We really didn't haven't much experience, most of us were just coming out of high school when we started this team in 2011. I want to thank Dean Dubois, he really had a lot of help coaching starting off, and Neil Hamilton as well. Along with Monique Laramee and all of our sponsors that came and got us new jerseys, and I guess the new jerseys paid off. Definitely a shout out to Dean, Neil, and Monique for all the help."