Monday, June 9, 2025

Colborn combines love of softball and country life

Local star piles up awards with Lady Buffs in Texas

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Cadence Colborn sets to make a hit during game action.
Cadence Colborn couldn’t pass up a chance to go on a new journey in Texas when the opportunity combined two of her biggest loves – softball and country life.

After graduating from Tommy Douglas Collegiate in June of 2024, Colborn ventured down to Canyon, Texas, to play for the West Texas University A&M Lady Buffs Softball Team in the NCAA Division II ranks. While Colborn grew up as a softball standout in Saskatoon, she would travel with her family to do work on the family farm outside of town. It was a place where Colborn always felt like she was home.

When she was with presented the chance to join the Lady Buffs playing out of a small city of just over 16,000 people in the northern part of Texas, Colborn couldn’t pass it up.

“I have a huge agriculture background,” said Colborn. “My dad is a farmer.

“I’ve grown up around the farm. I’m an animal science major, pre-vet major. It is just right up my alley.

“Everything is ‘yee-haw’ and cowboy hats. I also rodeo, so that is really cool too. Everything is rodeo down there.”

Colborn is back in Saskatoon playing for the CT&V Selects U19A team. The 18-year-old returned home after having a spectacular first season with the Lady Buffs. In 57 total games, Colborn, who plays first base, went 48-for-111 at the plate for a .432 average, nine home runs and 51 RBI.

She was named a second team All-Lone Star Conference all-star, to the Lone Star Conference All-Freshman team and a National Fastpitch Coaches Association South-Central Region second team all-star.

Along with piling up the awards, Colborn helped the Lady Buffs put up a 56-8 overall record. The Lady Buffs fell 2-1 in the best-of-three NCAA South Super Regionals to the University of Texas at Tyler Patriots for the right to advance to NCAA Division II College World Series. The Patriots would move on to claim a second straight NCAA Division II national title.

Cadence Colborn goes yard at nationals on August 3, 2025.
Being part and playing well in the Lady Buffs lengthy post-season run was a thrilling new experience for Colborn.

“It was awesome,” said Colborn, who stands 5-foot-7. “We talked a whole year about playing for a national championship, so we could kind of set ourselves up for that stage.

“In practice, we play harder than we do in the games. Practice is always harder. It was just unreal.

“I’ve never played on a stage like that. The fans are crazy.”

Growing up in Saskatoon, Colborn seemed destined to play softball for the longer term. She regularly went to games her father, Shawn, played in and remembers chasing down foul balls to make a little extra cash from the scorekeeper. She credits Shawn and her mother, Andrea, for being the biggest influences in helping her in the game.

“I grew up around the ballpark,” said Colborn. “I’ve just kind of been playing my whole life.

“It has just kind of been in the family. I was born with a ball in my hand. There are pictures of me with my dad’s ball glove on.

“I started T-ball when I was like five.”

When she started playing softball, Colborn was drawn to crushing the ball with the bat.

“I think hitting has always been my favourite,” said Colborn. “I love just swinging the bat and feeling the ball fly off the bat.

“I just like the atmosphere. I think it is fun. If you strike out or have a tough day at the plate, you can come back on defence.”

Colborn excelled at the sport as she grew up. Before she headed off to play for the Lady Buffs, Colborn gave hometown fans thrills playing for the provincial champion Saskatoon Prairie Dog Selects at Softball Canada’s Under-19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament that ran July 31 to August 4, 2024 at the diamonds on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Cadence Colborn takes up a defensive position at first base.
The Selects posted a 5-3 overall record, and Colborn was named a tournament all-star. At the plate, Colborn posted a .474 batting average and nailed three home runs. In the playoff round, she homered off Fraser Valley Fusion pitcher Morgan Reimer, who has been a regular in Softball Canada’s national team system.

Ryan Ray coached Colborn last season and is coaching her again this season in the Selects program. 

Having been part of high-level softball as either a player or a coach for almost his whole life, Ray was immediately impressed with Colborn.

“She is a very, very hard worker,” said Ray. “When she puts something in her mind, she does it.

“She works and works until she gets it done. It is not always easy to coach a player that is that driven, because they expect a lot out of you too. I love the challenge that she gives all the time, and it has always been enjoyable coaching her.”

Ray believes Colborn’s potential to go far in the sport is huge.

“The sky is the limit,” said Ray. “She can play in the Olympics.

“I firmly believe that she is a good enough hitter to do that, and her defence is getting better and better all the time. The sky is the limit for her. Whatever she puts her mind to, she will get.”

Originally, Colborn thought she would remain close to home when it came to playing post-secondary softball. That changed the deeper she got in her high school years.

“I started to really think about it when I was in Grade 11,” said Colborn, whose younger brother, Braeden, plays for the Saskatoon Giants Under-18 AAA Baseball Team. “I actually didn’t think I was going to go play college softball.

Cadence Colborn enjoys driving the ball deep.
“I wanted to stay home and go to the U of S (Saskatchewan). Then, a couple of my friends started signing. They’re older than me.

“Then, I was kind of like, ‘Yeah, I kind of want to go do this, and I think I could be good at it.’”

When she started playing for the Lady Buffs, Colborn said she had to adjust to how good the pitchers were, and her coaches worked with her regarding approaches at the plate.

“The pitching was unreal,” said Colborn. “I had never seen pitching like that.

“There were rise balls where they hit their spots. On the other side, our coach found ways to help us. We hit off the machine every day.

“The pitching was just unreal. They threw like 66, 67 and all the way up to like 72 (miles per hour). They mix their pitches, they mix paces, and they just really tried their best to get you out.”

On a personal front, Colborn was hoping to pick up an all-star award as a rookie. She wasn’t expecting a trio of all-star honours to come her way.

“It was just unreal,” said Colborn. “That was a goal going in was just to make a conference team.

“I made a conference team and a region team. I did not expect to be named a region player in my first freshman year, but that was just surreal. I was just grateful to even be nominated for the regional award.”

Now that she is back at home for the summer, Colborn is hoping to help the Selects have another big season. When the campaign with the Selects wraps up, she will play for Saskatchewan’s women’s softball team at the Canada Summer Games that runs August 8 to 25 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

While the NCAA is more open for movement than it ever has been with rule changes regarding the transfer portal in recent years, Colborn is planning to remain with the Lady Buffs, because that is where she feels most at home.

Cadence Colborn, left, is pictured after winning a provincial title.
“I like where I am at right now,” said Colborn. “It is great.

“It is good for my schooling as well. I will see what the future holds, but I definitely want to win a national championship. I think we have a really good chance at that next year, so I’ll be sticking around for the next couple of years until we win one.”

Berries back in business in rocking photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Carter Beck gives a thumbs up after sliding in safe at third.
They were Saskatoon’s hottest ticket in the summer of 2024 and are continuing their momentum early in their 2025 campaign.

The Saskatoon Berries began their inaugural Western Canadian Baseball League season a year ago playing their home games out of Cairns Field. Over their 26 regular season home dates, they averaged 1,931 spectators per game.

The expansion Berries started out 3-8 before jetting to a 31-26 finish to place sixth overall in the 12-team circuit. They advanced to the best-of-three East Division Championship Series before falling 5-3 in a series deciding Game 3 to the Moose Jaw Miller Express on August 13, 2024 at Cairns Field.

Barry the Bear is feeling happy with a bowl full of popcorn.
Centre-fielder Carter Beck, who is from Carnduff, Sask., took home WCBL awards as the circuit’s Rookie of the Year and Most Outstanding Canadian. In 51 regular season games with the Berries, Beck posted a .374 average, 11 home runs, 38 runs batted in and 53 runs scored.

In the early part of the 2025 season, the Berries have jumped out to a 7-2 start. While they are playing in just their second season, they have been tabbed as an early favourite to contend for the WCBL championship.

Our lead picture for this photo roundup shows Beck giving the thumbs up after sliding safely into third base after hitting a triple in a 14-6 victory over the Fort McMurray Giants on June 4 at Cairns Field. Our second photo comes from that same game, and it shows mascot Barry the Bear about to enjoy a bowl of popcorn. The third picture sees pitcher Merek Yeager going through his windup on a throw to home plate.

Merek Yeager windsup to fire a pitch over home plate.
Along with the pictures featuring the Berries, this photo roundup includes other scenes from baseball, football, softball and track and field. All these sports are in full swing, and it is common there are nights on the Complex grounds where Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Track and Field Track, Cairns Field, Leakos Field and all eight of the softball diamonds are all in use at the same time.

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 15 shots we hope you enjoy.

Here comes the heat

Saskatoon Diamondbacks pitcher Sean Coverett fires a pitch to home during a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League Under-18 AAA game on May 13 at Cairns Field. The Diamondbacks would get past the East Central Red Sox on this night 11-8.

Gainer meets the fans

Saskatchewan Roughriders mascot Gainer the Gopher gives high-fives and meets fans at Saskatoon Minor Football Field as part of the CFL team’s Green and White Day on May 17. Green and White Day is one of the first big events of the 2025 season where the Roughriders interact with their fans.

All-out effort

A Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver makes a catch during simulated game activities during the team’s Green and White Day held on May 17 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Roughriders went through a number of simulated game situations in their player evaluations.

Meeting Rider Nation

The Saskatchewan Roughriders meet their fans following a simulated game session that was part of the team’s Green and White Day activities held on May 17 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Roughriders players satisfied all the autograph and picture requests that came their way.

Conference call

Members of the Wynyard Blues have a meeting on the pitching mound during action at the Quinn Stevenson Memorial 18U AA Tournament on May 24 at Leakos Field. In a tightly contested game, the Blues dropped a 2-1 decision to the Saskatoon Cardinals.

Setting the pace

A group of runners finds their pace during a 3,000-metre race during the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Championship on May 29 at the Track and Field Track. This was the second of two days the city championship ran at the track.

Big effort

A discus thrower from Aden Bowman Collegiate launches a throw during action at the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Championship on May 29 at the Track and Field Track. School meets attract athletes that view track and field as their main sport and athletes from other sports.

Take off

A shot put thrower from Bishop James Mahoney High School launches a shot during action at the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Championship on May 29 at the Track and Field Track. All athletes at this meet were looking to qualify for the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association provincials that ran June 6 and 7 in Moose Jaw.

Angel in the outfield

A centre-fielder from the Twin City Angels U17A team reacts to making a diving catch in the outfield during a game at Glenn Reeve Field #4 on June 4. The effort drew cheers from players in the dugouts of both the Angels and the Saskatoon Stealth.

Defensive gem

Fort McMurray Giants shortstop Darcy Barry comes up with a great defensive throw to get the out at first in a WCBL game against the Saskatoon Berries on June 4 at Cairns Field. The play was one of a handful of highlights for the Giants as they fell 14-6 to the Berries.

Crusader takes down Crusader

A Team Green defensive lineman who also plays for the Holy Cross Crusaders High School Football Team takes down a Team Green quarterback who also plays for the Crusaders. Team Black and Team Green were going at it in the Saskatoon Minor Football North Sask Academy U18 championship game at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on June 4. Team Black prevailed over Team Green 20-17.

Trophy time

Two captains from Team Black pose for a photo after receiving the championship trophy after their squad won the Saskatoon Minor Football North Sask Academy U18 championship game at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on June 4. The academy league features some of the best age group players in the north half of the province.

Kick the dust up

A member of the Melfort Spirit U19A women’s softball team stirs up a tonne of dust sliding into second base under the tag of a Saskatoon CT&V Selects U19A player on June 5 at Glenn Reeve Field #5. The Selects prevailed 7-1 in the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association league contest.

Coming through in the clutch

Saskatoon Valkyries rookie receiver Jada Duchene jets upfield after making a clutch catch and gets a big first down inside the final two minutes of a WWCFL regular season contest against the Manitoba Fearless on June 8 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Duchene’s reception played out to be huge in allowing the Valkyries to hold on to a 16-12 victory.

Valkyries cheer undefeated regular season

The Saskatoon Valkyries give a big cheer after slipping past the Manitoba Fearless 16-12 in a WWCFL regular season contest on June 8 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The win secured a perfect 4-0 regular season record for the Valkyries.