By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| The Jacks celebrate a win on August 30. |
Saskatoon
has a storied history for host Softball Canada nationals, and the Men’s
and Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournaments offered one last
big taste on the diamond until attention turned more fully to the activities of
fall. A total of 10 men’s teams and six master men’s teams were out to display
their skill from this past August 28 to September 1.
While the Galway Hitmen from Newfoundland took the men’s title and Cobourg Force from Ontario claimed the master men’s crown, athletes and teams from Saskatchewan carved out some highlights. Our lead photo shows the Saskatoon Jacks celebrating a win over the Bear Creek Express from Ontario on August 30 at Bob Van Impe Stadium.
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| Catcher Ryan Ray makes a plate block on August 31. |
The second
photo comes from Joe Gallagher Field on August 31, and it shows Melfort 222’s
catcher Ryan Ray coming up with a plate block. Ray is famous on the Complex
grounds for helping with facility maintenance and coaching softball players and
teams of seemingly all levels of experience.
The third
photo shows Saskatoon Jacks shortstop Brant Wiebe firing a rocket to get an out
at first base in his team’s August 30 win over the Express.
Along with images from the Men’s and Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship, August’s photo roundup checks in with pictures from baseball, football and softball. Of course, the high school football season has started so we have a couple of check ins there.
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| Brant Wiebe fires a ball to first base to get an out on August 30. |
We also
have cool photos from the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops and the U
of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Team.
The
pictures in this photo roundup capture some of the memories that are made on
our grounds. In this photo roundup, the majority of these pictures were taken
by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke along with a check in from another sweet source.
Without
further ado, here is a selection of 15 shots we hope you enjoy.
Douglas on a tear
Star receiver Drake Douglas was on fire in the Saskatoon Hilltops 38-13 regular season opener against the Edmonton Huskies on August 11 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Douglas finished the contest hauling seven passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned six punts for 113 yards. After three regular season games, Douglas has caught 17 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns. He has also returned 18 punts for 229 yards.
Beck gets triple for the cycle
In one of the most memorable moments of the Saskatoon Berries inaugural WCBL season, centre-fielder Carter Beck hit for the cycle in his team’s 14-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Miller Express in Game 1 of the WCBL’s best-of-three East Division Championship Series at Cairns Field. This photo shows Beck getting a triple in the bottom of the seventh to complete the cycle. Beck went 4-for-5 at the plate driving in three runs with a single, a double, a triple and a home run.
Berries final salute for 2024
The Saskatoon Berries salute the 1,811 spectators that came out to Cairns Field on August 13 as they fell 5-3 in a series deciding Game 3 of the WCBL’s East Division Championship Series. The Berries great inaugural season came up one win short of the WCBL final.
On target throw
Julia Smith of the Night Fever is set to release an accurate throw during Saskatoon Adult Flag Football League playoff action on August 21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Smith’s Night Fever blanked the Honey Badgers 39-0.
Lipinski Memorial Award special
night
The Darren Lipinski Memorial Award 50th Award Banquet was held on August 27 in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building. For the 50th anniversary of the award, 12 individuals were honoured for their outstanding contribution to softball in Saskatoon including Peggy Bonin, Susan Burns, Gord Cook, Bob Dybvig, Elyse Hamel, Brent Klassen, Debbie Krawchuk, John Michaluk, Larry Oleksuk, Gary Phillips, Gavin Russell and Nancy Scott.
Cool gift from Tree Canada
The Gordie Howe Sports Complex Management Corporation would like to thank “Tree Canada” for a $10,000 grant provided to plant 81 trees and shrubs on our 66 Acres. The trees include Blue Spruce, Scotch Pine, Larches, Lilacs and Foerster Grass.
We would also like to thank the Saskatoon Hilltops for
coming through for us again to assist us with another project. The Hilltops
planted trees for us for two days on their bye week. We are very proud of our
association with the Hilltops Football Club, and we appreciate everything these
young men do for us.
MVP for Ethier
Trevor Ethier sends an off-speed pitch to the plate for the Melfort 222’s on August 31 at Joe Gallagher Field during action at Softball Canada’s Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament. Ethier still keeps adding accolades to his decorated athletic career in both softball and hockey. He would be named the MVP of the master men’s nationals posting a .400 batting average, a .538 on base percentage and three runs batted in at the plate. He also posted a .460 earned run average in 15 innings pitched.
222’s pack the park
A big crowd turned out to see the Melfort 222’s play at Joe Gallagher Field on August 31 as part of game action at Softball Canada’s Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament. The 222’s would post a 7-4 victory over the Alberta Pirates.
Force Master Men’s Canadian
champs
The Cobourg Force from Ontario pose for the customary team photo after winning the title game of Softball Canada’s Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on September 1 at Joe Gallagher Field. They beat the Melfort 222’s 5-3 in the gold medal contest. This photo comes courtesy Softball Canada.
Hitmen claim Men’s Canadian title
The Galway Hitmen from Newfoundland pose for the customary team photo after winning the title game of Softball Canada’s Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on September 1 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. They downed the Toronto Batmen 9-8 in eight innings in the gold medal contest. This photo comes courtesy Softball Canada.
Running with power
Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears running back Elijah Doleman powers his way downfield in an SSSAD high school football game on September 5 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Doleman and the Bears blanked the Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers 14-0.
Open field magic
St. Joseph High School Guardians running back Samuel Lafreniere weaves his way through the Centennial Collegiate Chargers defence in an SSSAD high school football game on September 6 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Lafreniere and the Guardians downed the Chargers 44-16.
Let it rip
Mary Lee McNeil fires a pitch to home plate for the U of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Team during Western Collegiate Softball Association game action on September 6 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The U of S sided downed the Mount Royal University Cougars 10-1.
Big effort in the outfield
Thea Friesen makes a running catch in left field for the U of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Team during Western Collegiate Softball Association game action on September 8 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The U of S posted a 9-2 victory over the U of Regina Cougars to complete a series of six games at home over three days posting a record of four wins and two ties.
Stretching to secure an out
Emma Maurice makes an impressive effort to stretch to catch a ball and keep her foot on first base to secure an out for the U of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Team during Western Collegiate Softball Association game action on September 8 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Maurice had many big defensive efforts helping the U of S take a 9-2 victory over the U of Regina Cougars to complete a series of six games at home over three days posting a record of four wins and two ties.
