By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Rachel Siwak drives the ball of a tee at the Indoor Training Centre. |
For the
Gordie Howe Sports Complex, the arrival of May starts a period lasting about
six to seven months where all the facilities on the Complex grounds are in
operation. Baseball and softball begin regular season play.
Football gets
going with numerous flag leagues, Saskatoon Minor Football’s North Sask Academy
league and the Saskatoon Valkyries, who venture on a quest to capture another
WWCFL title. The Track and Field Track gets swamped with various meets in May,
June and July.
Of course,
there is big excitement for the return of Western Canadian Baseball League to
Saskatoon. The Saskatoon Berries will play their home opener on May 28 at 7
p.m. at Cairns Field against the Regina Red Sox. That contest will mark the
first time Cairns Field has hosted a game in Canada’s premier collegiate summer
wood bat league since the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets ceased operation following
the 2014 season.
Activity
was still busy inside the Indoor Training Centre as athletes in all these
sports were peaking their training throughout April in anticipation of the
calendar turning to May. One group looking further down the road in this
calendar year was the University of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Program. They
held a tryout camp inside the Indoor Training Centre from April 13 to 14.
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| Samantha Moore runs down a ball hit into the outfield. |
The tryout
camp allowed the U of S players to get in some work before joining various club
teams at the start of May and playing with those squads in spring and summer.
The U of S squad usually begins play in late August.
The
pictures 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 11 shots we hope you enjoy.
Focus on tackle form
Lineout catch looks good
Members of the Saskatoon Wild Oats Rugby Club work at making sure the ball is caught in a lineout on April 10 at the Indoor Training Centre. Members of both the Wild Oats men’s and women’s programs were gearing up for their upcoming campaigns.
Securing the flyout
An outfielder with a Saskatoon Selects under-18 team gets under and secures a catch in the outfield during a training session on April 10 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Selects players were getting in as many defensive repetitions as possible with the season around the corner.
Tracking in top form
A catcher follows the ball into her glove during a tryout session hosted by the University of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Program on April 13 at the Indoor Training Centre. The coaches with the U of S club were evaluating players before they departed to their club teams in May that play in spring and summer.
Take down
A young player flattens a tackle wheel during a drill on April 16 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon Minor Football was holding an ID camp for its North Sask Academy in the under-16 age group on this day.
Running with power
A ball carrier powers through a couple of tacklers during a kick return drill on April 16 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The drill was part of the activities overseen by Saskatoon Minor Football as part of an ID camp for its North Sask Academy in the under-16 age group.
Winter reminder
Just when it looked like the weather outside was cleared up, winter sent a reminder that it could come back at any time. Saskatoon Minor Football Field is pictured here after a snow dump on April 18.
Sweet touch throw
A quarterback makes a perfect throw during a Rush Female High School Flag Football mass practice on April 22 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Players taking part in the Rush program develop a strong love for the game.
Well-timed juke
A ball carrier puts on a juke move to fake out a defender during a Rush Female High School Flag Football mass practice on April 22 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Rush program is outstanding when it comes to delivering fun and competitiveness.
All in the release
A young pitcher focuses on making a good release working on her craft at a Saskatoon Phantoms under-15 team practice at the Indoor Training Centre on April 28. The Phantoms coaches had pitchers working on their release before going into a full pitch wind up.
Turning on the jets
A base runner finds her top gear turning a well-placed hit into a triple during a modified scrimmage between a pair of Saskatoon Selects teams on April 28 at the Indoor Training Centre. The turf field at the Indoor Training Centre provides a perfect spot to conduct simulated game situations.
Safe at home
Saskatoon Giants base runner Tristin Tetreault Yaremko slides in safe at home during a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League game in under-18 AAA play against the Saskatoon Diamondbacks on May 8 at Leakos Field. The Diamondbacks ultimately squeaked out a 4-3 win.
Special delivery
Saskatoon Diamondbacks pitcher Casey Rauckman finesses a pitch to the plate during a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League game in under-18 AAA play against the Saskatoon Giants on May 8 at Leakos Field. The Diamond slipped past the Giants 4-3.
He could go all the way
Samuel LaFreniere from Team Green runs a punt a long way back to a touchdown during North Sask Academy league action on May 8 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Team Green took this contest over Team White 41-2.
Making it look routine
A Cardinals men’s team baseball player settles under a fly ball during a training session on May 8 at the Indoor Training Centre. A smaller group of Cardinals players were out getting lots repetitions in the outfield.
A beauty site
The K+S Potash Canada Multi-Sports Centre sits overlooking the Track and Field Track on May 9 waiting to be used for that evening’s twilight meet. It makes for a great site on a sweet sunny day.
