Saturday, September 9, 2023

Summer season ends hot, fall starts with roar in photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Boston Davidsen charges upfield for the Hilltops.
When the summer season wraps up and the fall season begins at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, it feels like a situation where all good things must come to an end for new good things to begin.

August saw the summer baseball and softball seasons conclude. Softball finished with a bang as Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament ran on our grounds from August 9 to 13 and FSIN Treaty Fast Pitch Championships followed on August 18 to 20. Both events created numerous good memories.

August also saw the Saskatoon Hilltops spring back into action along with the University of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Program. That signaled the start of the fall season, which both programs will play well into.

The lead photo of our photo roundup comes from the Hilltops 50-18 CJFL regular season victory over the Calgary Colts on August 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In the photo, Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen charges downfield adding rushing yards to a monster performance. In the win, he carried the ball 15 times for 190 yards and one touchdown.

Playing his final season of CJFL eligibility for the Hilltops, Davidsen leads the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference with 458 yards coming on 49 carries with three of those jaunts going for touchdowns. Davidsen is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards rushing for the regular season.

If he is able to pull off that accomplishment, it would mark the 10th time in Hilltops team history dating back to the club’s modern version start in 1947 that an individual has hit the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the regular season. Davidsen put up the ninth 1,000-yard rushing season in Hilltops history in 2022 carrying the ball 149 times for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns.

Along with the exploits of the Hilltops and U of S Softball team, high school football sprung back into action first with pre-season contests and the start of regular season play as August turned into September.

These photos in this photo roundup capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, all of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 15 shots we hope you enjoy.

Lasers drive

A Saskatoon Lasers hitter drives a ball into the outfield at Bob Van Impe Stadium on August 11 during Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament. The Lasers finished the tournament with a 2-4 record.

Phantoms eye on the ball

A Saskatoon Phantoms catcher keeps her eye on the ball after making and frame up a catch behind the plate at Glenn Reeve Field #3 on August 11 during Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament. The Phantoms finished the tournament with a 3-5 record.

Smiles all around

This friendly trio was out enjoying the championship game of Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament that was held on August 14. They asked for a picture, and we were happy to deliver on the request.

Championship spoils

The players from the Fraser Valley Fusion pose with the championship trophy after winning the gold medal game of Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament. The Fusion posted an 8-0 record at the event. They took an exciting championship game 4-3 over the D1 Nationals from Ontario on August 13 at Bob Van Impe Stadium.

Best of the best

Morgan Reimer unloads a pitch during the title game of Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament on August 13 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The pitcher/shortstop was named the winner of the event’s Top Player Award. In all action at the event, Reimer posted a 5-0 record pitching 39 innings recording 63 strike outs and a .718 earned-run average.

Story tellers of baseball days of old

A group of seven players came out to the SaskTel Learning Centre Classroom on August 18 as part of a prairie players baseball reunion for those who played semi-professional in Saskatchewan in the 1950s and 1960s. These players shared fantastic stories that showed how rich the province’s baseball history is.

All hugs after tribute

The opening ceremonies for the FSIN Treaty Fast Pitch Championships at Bob Van Impe Stadium on August 18 were emotional and moving. Near the end of the ceremonies, families walked around the infield of the diamond with pictures of loved ones who passed away as a tribute to their memories. Those walks were followed by lots of hugs when the opening ceremonies concluded.

Celebrate good times, come on

The celebration was on for the Pasqua A’s after they won the championship game of the FSIN Treaty Fast Pitch Championships on August 20 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The A’s got past the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation 6-5 in a well-played game.

Safe!

A University of Victoria Vikes base runner slides in safe at home under the tag attempt of a University of Regina Cougars catcher on August 26 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Vikes and Cougars were part of a group of seven teams playing Western Collegiate Softball Association league games on our diamonds from August 25 to 27.

Sack pack

A trio of Saskatoon Hilltops players combine to sack a Calgary Colts quarterback during a CJFL regular season clash played on August 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops romped to a 50-18 victory to improve to 3-0 on the campaign.

Off to the races

An offensive player from the Rosetown High School Royals jets past a defender from the Hague High School Panthers during a series of scrimmages in six-man play on August 31 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The scrimmages held this night also featured the Hafford School Vikings.

TD denying interception

A defender from Saskatoon’s Bethlehem High School Stars makes a goal-line interception in an exhibition contest against Regina’s Winston Knoll Collegiate Wolverines on September 1 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Wolverines proved to be too tough on this day as they rolled to a 48-0 victory.

Embracing the Rain

A Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks running back charges upfield in heavy rain during a SSSAD contest against the E.D. Feehan Catholic High School Trojans on September 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Redhawks were able to fly in the elements posting a 37-0 victory.

Preserving an OT win

On September 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Holy Cross High School Crusaders and Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints played in the first SSSAD regular season contest that went to overtime. On the final play of OT, the Crusaders ran a missed field goal out of their end zone to preserve a 19-18 triumph.

Gifted grab

Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears receiver Mason Grabowski makes a twisting catch on a deep pass during a SSSAD contest on September 8 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Bears got a number of big plays like Grabowski’s catch downing the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders 46-7.