The skies opened up over Mitchell Field late into last night's game between the Swift Current 57's and Moose Jaw Miller Express and with rain pouring down, late-game heroics soon followed for the 57's.

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning, a lead-off game tying home run by first baseman and WMBL first-team all-star Bodie Cooper brought the remaining rain-soaked fans to their feet.

"The way the outfielder was running, I thought he was going to catch it, or he was going to rob it at the wall if it did have a chance (to make it over the wall)," said Cooper, whose homerun was briefly put in doubt by the rainy conditions while headed out of the park. "When I got around first base, I saw him kind of just give up - that's when I knew it was out. It felt good off of the bad, I just wasn't sure if it was going to get out."

After a walk by Keil Krumwiede, and single by Riley Campbell which advanced Krumwiede to third base, Catcher Mason Brown stepped up to the plate for the 57's - both literally and metaphorically. The Junior at Emporia State University laid down a walk-off bunt for Swift Current, driving in Krumwiede to win 4-3.

The 57's bench swarmed Krumwiede and Brown at the plate in celebration, with Brown realizing that the depth and talent on this Swift Current squad means anyone of those players congratulating him could be the one to play hero next.

"Everybody that's playing here is a good ball player, and they can step up at any time, and anywhere," the catcher exclaimed. "That's the great part about this team, is that we've been pretty dynamic as we come down the stretch."

Bobby St. Pierre had a solid outing on the mound as well, facing a gritty Miller Express team. St. Pierre, also named a WMBL First Team All-Star, gave up three runs (one earned) and six hits over eight innings, while dicing up the Miller Express with 11 strikeouts.

The veteran presence of players like St. Pierre and Cooper from last year's WMBL Championship-winning team has been noticeable throughout the regular season, but especially after the solid team effort that led the 57's to the walk-off win to open the 2017 playoffs.

"Oh that presence is huge, because we've been there before," said Cooper, last year's WMBL Rookie of the Year. "Having guys like me and him (St. Pierre) where we have that leadership and we know what to expect - we can definitely help these younger guys to be prepared. If we keep using this leadership, I think we'll be okay."

Up 1-0 in the best-of-five series with Moose Jaw, the 57's will be back at Mitchell Field tonight for game two at 7:05 p.m, with Dustin Wells expected to start on the mound for Swift Current.

Elsewhere around the WMBL in game one of their respective series, the Lethbridge Bulls beat the Medicine Hat Mavericks 3-2, the Weyburn Beavers took down the Regina Red Sox 6-2, and the Okotoks Dawgs toppled the Edmonton Prospects 8-2.