By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Jorde Chartrand sets to unload a pitch for Canada. |
As spring
transitioned to summer, we got to see a few cool moments take place at our
facilities. One of those moments saw 19-year-old right-handed pitcher Jorde
Chartrand throw for Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team at Bob Van Impe
Stadium during the second game of a doubleheader sweep of Czechia on July 1.
Chartrand pitched two scoreless innings in Canada’s second contest that day. From Weyburn, Sask., Chartrand trained for a number of years on our grounds and played for teams in Saskatoon before joining the University of Central Arkansas Bears women’s softball NCAA Division I program last fall. She will join the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Spartans women’s softball NCAA Division I program this fall.
Our lead
photo shows Chartrand pitching in familiar surroundings at Bob Van Impe Stadium
for Canada.
We also got
to see the Saskatoon Valkyries win their seventh WWCFL title on June 25 at
Saskatoon Minor Football Field with a 36-6 victory over the Winnipeg-based
Manitoba Fearless. While the Valkyries started using SMF Field as their home
park before the start of the 2015 season, their WWCFL title win this year
marked the first time they won a league championship at SMF Field.
Those two
moments were the highlights of the activity that has occurred on our baseball
and softball diamonds, SMF Field, Track and Field Track and the Indoor Training Centre over the past 30
days.
The
activity that happens on our grounds continues to provide great material for
our continuing photo roundups.
These photos
capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo
roundup, most of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in
Darren Steinke. The Saskatoon Cubs Under-18 AAA Baseball Team checked in with a
couple of sentimental photos too.
Without
further ado, here is a selection of 12 shots we hope you enjoy.
Rider on the Storm
Storm Zablocki, from Prince Albert Athletics, hits top gear in the 200-metre final of Saskatchewan’s Canada Summer Games Trails on June 12 at the Track and Field Track. Zablocki won the race in a time of 21.78 seconds.
Escape to daylight
A receiver from the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders breaks down the sideline after a catch during action in the Rush Female Flag Football League play on June 14 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon Minor Football runs Rush female flag programs from Grade 1 through to Grade 12.
Romping to MVP honours
Running back Sarah Wright rumbles to the house on a six-yard touchdown run for the Saskatoon Valkyries in the WWCFL title game held on June 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Valkyries won the contest, and Wright was named game MVP. She carried the ball 20 times for 157 yards to go with her major score on the ground, and she caught one pass for 14 yards in the victory.
Fun farewell
The Saskatoon Valkyries had some fun with star defensive tackle Jaime Lammerding following their win in the WWCFL Championship game held on June 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Following the win, the Valkyries players piled on top of Lammerding, who is giving a thumb up, during a series of on field team pictures. The WWCFL title game win was the last for Lammerding as a player, who has suited up for the Valkyries since their inaugural season in 2011. She is retired from the game as a player.
Sweet swing
Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team got good use out of the Indoor Training Centre during a practice on June 28. One of the players displays a sweet swing in the batting cages in this photo.
Beauty turnout at BVI
The main stands at Bob Van Impe Stadium were packed to see Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team sweep a doubleheader against Czechia on July 1. Fans came out in droves to see Canada sweep the two-game set.
For the kids
Right-handed pitcher Jorde Chartrand, who was playing for Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team, makes a young fan’s day signing autographs and posing for a picture on July 1 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The players from Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team met their fans and signed autographs following their doubleheader sweep of Czechia.
Let it fly
Saskatoon Cubs pitcher Brady Wouters makes a special delivery pitch during a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League under-18 AAA game on July 2 at Cairns Field. The Cubs lead the SPBL regular season standings with a 19-4 record.
Cubs honour veteran umpire Dodds
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The Saskatoon Cubs under-18 AAA baseball team checked with these two photos. Before hosting the Parkland Expos in a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League doubleheader on July 2 at Cairns Field, the Cubs honoured long time veteran umpire Gary Dodds. In the first photos, Cubs catcher Casey Prychak presented Dodds with the team signed baseball. Following the first game of the doubleheader, the Cubs posed for a team picture with Dodds. Dodds was working his final two games of the season that day before going in for knee surgery. He has developed a reputation for being one of the most well liked and respected umpires in the province, while having one of the heaviest workloads year in and year out in Saskatoon. Dodds has umpired games in Saskatoon for over 15 years, and the Cubs wanted to thank him for his service to the game and wish him the best in his recovery. Dodds expects to return to action umpiring games next season.
Hot shot up the middle
A Saskatoon Selects hitter drives a hot hit though the middle of the infield during a league game on July 5 at Glenn Reeve Field #3. The Complex has hosted league softball games in all sorts of age levels once again this season.
A safe slide just in time
A Southeast Sun Devils base runner beats a Tisdale Riverdogs team member’s throw to second base at Joe Gallagher Field on July 8 during action in Softball Saskatchewan’s Girls’ under-15 BW Provincial Championship tournament. Provincial Championship tournament action in under-15 BW and under-15 B girls’ play and under-19 A and under-23 A women’s play continues on our diamonds July 9 and wraps up July 10.
