By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Jose Bautista works with a youngster on gripping a bat. |
The Blue Jays are known as Canada’s MLB team, but that gained a new connection type feeling locally when Jose Bautista, Buck Martinez, Jose Berrios and Jamie Campbell visited Saskatoon.
All four dropped in to help out with a baseball clinic put on by Kinsmen of Saskatoon in the morning of February 2 at the Indoor Training Centre.
The clinic was part of the festivities associated with the Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner held later that night at the TCU Place.
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| Andrew Albers and Jose Berrios give points to young players. |
Our lead
picture of our photo roundup shows Bautista working with a youngster on how to
properly grip a bat. The second picture of the photo roundup shows retired MLB
pitcher and Going Yard Baseball Academy instructor Andrew Albers along with
Berrios passing on some instructions to a group of youngsters.
The clinic
also included a football station overseen by Saskatchewan Roughriders members Noah
Zerr and Jorgen Hus. They did a terrific job teaching the youngsters how to
throw and catch. Our third photo shows the Roughriders pair giving teaching
tips to a group of youngsters.
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| Noah Zerr (#68) and Jorgen Hus (#46) instruct at a football station. |
In this
photo roundup, most of these pictures were taken by our Communications
Coordinator in Darren Steinke along with one cool submitted check in.
Without
further ado, here is a selection of 20 shots we hope you enjoy.
Sweet stroke
Hitter Olivia Prokopchuk works on her stroke during a Saskatoon Lasers training session on January 11 at the Indoor Training Centre. Prokopchuk has a strong ability to be able to crush the ball with power on the softball diamonds.
Set for delivery
A group of pitchers prepare to deliver the ball during a Saskatoon Royals female baseball program training session on January 14 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Royals had a healthy turnout of players from various age groups on this day who came out to work on the fundamentals of the game.
Ready to bring the heat
A Saskatoon Cubs pitcher sets to fire a ball across the plate during a training session on January 14 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Cubs also had a good togetherness vibe going as they look towards the upcoming under-18 AAA Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League season.
All about focus
A player keeps her eye on the ball focusing on a catch during a fielding drill at a 222’s Fastpitch program training session on January 17 at the Indoor Training Centre. The players at 222’s training sessions get a healthy amount of repetitions in drills which allows them to improve.
Conditioning key to on field
success
George Idoko, who is a defensive lineman for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team, runs some short hurdles during a team training session on January 18 at the Indoor Training Centre. The work Idoko puts in now will allow him sack quarterbacks and stop running backs late in the fourth quarter of games in September, October and November.
Looking for an opening
An offensive player looks for a passing lane against a defender during Saskatoon Ultimate Sport-Disc Society league action on January 19 at the Indoor Training Centre. In Saskatoon Ultimate Sport-Disc Society league play, you get to see lots of athletic plays and fun.
Speed comes from the stride
A young skater focuses on making the perfect stride in a race during the first day at the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet on January 20 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. Everyone from the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club looks forward to the annual local meet.
Zamboni at work
Our own Greg Nichol drives the Zamboni for a flood of the ice surface at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on January 20 between races at the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet. It is part of Canadian culture to dream about driving the Zamboni. With that said, Greg is one of the best in the province when it comes to that skill.
Blast off
A group of young skates takes off from the start line during a race on the second day of the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet on January 21 at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. The John Sands Classic was a tremendous success thanks to the work of the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club.
Strategy in the pack
A group of skaters heads down the front straightaway of the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval as part of a 10-lap open race to close out the John Sands Classic Long Track Meet on January 21. The skaters were trying to determine a plan for the lengthy race.
Ready to deliver
A young bowler gets set to fire a ball down the pitching lanes at the Indoor Training Centre as part of a junior cricket practice on January 21. The crew at Cricket Saskatoon does an outstanding job teaching young players the skills of the game.
Making it look routine
One of the highly skilled wicket-keepers from Cricket Saskatoon’s junior program makes an off to the side catch look easy during a training session on January 21 at the Indoor Training Centre. Wicket-keepers have to be ready for all sorts of situations that could happen.
Impressive turnout for Valkyries
The Saskatoon Valkyries Winter Camp attracted a total of 95 athletes to the Indoor Training Centre on January 28. The Valkyries are taking their first steps on a quest to win a ninth WWCFL title. A big thanks to the Valkyries for this photo.
Bringing the heat
A pitcher fires the ball to home plate during a Going Yard Baseball Academy training session on January 30 at the Indoor Training Centre. The instructors at Going Yard assist players in perfecting various little fundaments to help them play the game better.
A little help from Buck
A young hitter gets some help with his batting stance from retired Toronto Blue Jays catcher and current “voice of the Blue Jays” Buck Martinez on February 2 at the Indoor Training Centre. Martinez lent a helping hand to a baseball clinic put on by Kinsmen of Saskatoon.
Set for the throw to first
A young player sets to make a throw to first base during an infield drill at a baseball clinic put on by Kinsmen of Saskatoon on February 2 at the Indoor Training Centre. The clinic allowed players to take part in various baseball skill building drills and meet members of the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays.
Ready for spring training
Toronto Blue Jays ace pitcher Jose Berrios gets some work done in the pitching tunnels at the Indoor Training Centre on February 2. It won’t be long now before Berrios will be reporting for spring training with the Blue Jays.
Making an impression
A young receiver makes a catch during a high school camp run by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football team on February 2 at the Indoor Training Centre. The players were looking to make good impressions for the Huskies coaches.
A well-deserved honour
On February 2, Bryan Kosteroski, who is the chair of Gordie Howe Sports Complex Management Incorporated and Friends of the Bowl Foundation, was named the 2023 recipient of Kinsmen Sportsperson of the Year award. The honour has been awarded since 1961. Kosteroski was given the honour for his many decades of service to sports in Saskatoon in various roles including athlete, coach, official and administrator. Kosteroski, right, is pictured with Jose Bautista.
Aiming to impress
A young pitcher unloads a throw during Saskatoon Phantoms evaluations at the Indoor Training Centre on February 8. The Phantoms were evaluating players in their U15 and U17 age groups.
