By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Josh Henson fires a ball to first base for a final out in a win on May 30. |
In their
two seasons of existence, the Berries have provided great baseball and a
top-quality entertainment experience at the ballpark with their various in-game
promotions. Cairns Field has hosted many perfect Berries baseball nights in
2024 and 2025. In both those campaigns, the Berries have advanced to the
best-of-three WCBL’s East Division Championship Series and fell in a
series-deciding Game 3 on both occasions.
Going into
season number three in 2026, there is much anticipation about how much
excitement Berries head coach Joe Carnahan and his players can deliver. After starting the WCBL regular season with two wins over the Beavers in Weyburn, the
Berries opened their home schedule hosting the Beavers on May 30 at Cairns
Field.
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| Joe Carnahan points out intructions to his players on May 30. |
Our lead
photo shows Berries third baseman Josh Henson firing a ball to first base for
the game’s final out. Our second picture sees Carnahan pointing out
instructions to his players in the Berries dugout. The third shot sees hometown
right-handed pitching product and Saskatoon Cubs 18U AAA Team alum Colin Plain
delivering a toss to home plate.
To add to the excitement of the 2026 campaign, the
Berries will host the 2026 WCBL All-Star Weekend on Saturday, July 18 and
Sunday, July 19, which marks the first time that festivities around the
circuit’s all-star game will run over two days. Festivities start at 4 p.m. on
July 19 and include a bunt contest, a little league home run derby, a WCBL home
run derby and a live concert by Jordyn Pollard. The WCBL All-Star Game is
slated for 1 p.m. on July 19 and a post-game autograph session will follow.
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| Colin Plain fires a pitch to home plate on May 30. |
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 20 shots we hope you enjoy.
Valkyries
embrace bad weather
During their first home game of the 2026 WWCFL campaign on May 17 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Saskatoon Valkyries, who are the defending league champions, encountered numerous different weather conditions excluding sunny and hot ones. That is best seen here as Valkyries quarterback Julia Smith calls a play deep in her own end. The Valkyries blanked the visiting Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless 7-0 on this day.
The return of Girolami
After taking a year off, Haley Girolami returned to the Saskatoon Valkyries. She returns a punt here for the Valkyries on May 17 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a 7-0 win over the Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless. Girolami is already one of the Valkyries all-time greats, and her return gives a boost in the experience department to a roster that is fairly young.
Supreme focus on the deep ball
A receiver makes a catch on a deep pass during a Rush Female High School Flag Football league contest on May 18 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Overseen by Saskatoon Minor Football, this circuit allows players to form teams with fellow students from their own high schools, and it creates another avenue for female players to experience the fun in football.
Breaking to the open field
A running back from Team Black attempts to motor past a pair of Team Blue defenders during a Varsity Academy league contest on May 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The circuit is overseen by Saskatoon Minor Football, and the league contains teams that are stacked with the best high school aged players from Saskatoon and the northern part of the province.
Special delivery
Saskatoon Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Dylan Pura sends an off-speed toss to home plate during his team’s Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League 18U AAA contest against the Sask 5 Marlins on May 21 at Leakos Field. In a back-and-forth encounter, the Diamondbacks had to score twice in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 5-4 victory.
Taking flight
An athlete from Hague High School thrusts a shot into the field during a shot put competition as part of the Central Valley Athletic Conference’s track and field B meet on May 21 at the Track and Field Track. The event helped athletes from schools in communities surrounding Saskatoon gain experience in a live event setting.
Running into traffic
A ball carrier encountered opposition defenders during Six-A-Side Tackle Football Program action on May 21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The ball carrier battled before going down as ultimately too many tacklers got involved in the play. This Saskatoon Minor Football program focuses on skill development and offers an introduction to the tackle version of the sport.
They’re off
A group of sprinters takes off at the start line during the first day of the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Track and Field Championship started at the Track and Field Track on May 27. Athletes soak in the chance to represent the city’s various high schools at this meet.
Up and over
Sid Nuque of the Bethlehem Catholic High School Stars works to stay ahead in the boys 80-metre hurdles final of the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Track and Field Championship held at the Track and Field Track on May 28. Nuque took the race in 11.64 seconds edging out Tariq Kalyar of the Marion M. Graham High School Falcons, who posted a time of 11.80 seconds.
Saint goes marching in
Bella Vasconez of the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints had a golden day in the senior girls’ 3,000-metre race at the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Track and Field Championship held at the Track and Field Track on May 28. She claimed top spot with a time of 11 minutes and 13.56 seconds. Vasconez would later finish second at the SHSAA Track and Field Championships on June 6, and that event was also held at the Track and Field Track.
Contact
Saskatoon Berries shortstop Nathan Houston drives ball into the outfield during his team’s 7-6 home opening win over the Weyburn Beavers on May 30 at Cairns Field. Houston is a Melville, Sask., product who played this past season with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Baseball Team in the NCAA Division I ranks.
Running with Barry
Saskatoon Berries mascot Barry the Bear runs with a group of youngsters following the team’s 7-6 home opening win over the Weyburn Beavers on May 30 at Cairns Field. Since starting in 2024, one of the traditions the Berries have had at their games is allowing youngsters to run the bases at the end of the contest.
Home plate seating a hit
Saskatoon Berries fans, who are known as the Jam Fan, enjoy a new seating section that has been constructed behind home plate at Cairns Field. For the home opener pictured here on May 30, Berries fans in this section sat on fold up cushioned seats for one night only. Theatre style seats were installed for the team’s third home game on June 4.
Baseball nights are fun nights
A zoomed out view here of Cairns Field shows the new seating area behind home plate during the Saskatoon Berries 7-6 home opening win over the Weyburn Beavers on May 30. The upgrade makes Cairns Field feel that much more like a field of dreams.
Eye on the ball
A catcher with the Saskatoon Jacks men’s softball team tracks the ball into his glove during the first game of a Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association doubleheader against the Bruno Merchants on June 2 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Jacks would take both games of the double dip by scores of 10-1 and 9-2.
Taking flight
Addisyn Hansen of the Twin City Angels U17A team drives a shot into the outfield in a Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association contest on June 2 against the Saskatoon Shock on June 2 at Glenn Reeve Field #3. The Angels came away with an 8-1 victory on this night.
Reaching higher heights
Jackson Tuplin would hit a height of 4.30 metres to win the senior boys’ pole vault at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships on June 5 at the Track and Field Track. The Swift Current Comprehensive High School student had an outstanding showing at provincials. He would also claim first in the senior boys’ 100-metre hurdles and place second in the senior boys’ 200-metre race and the senior boys’ long jump.
Jetting down the home stretch
Rosie Braun hits the home stretch at full speed in a senior girls’ 200-metre final race at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships on June 6 at the Track and Field Track. The Valley Christian Academy Lions athlete would squeak out a tight first place finish in a time of 24.93 seconds. Braun also claimed silver in the senior girls’ 100-metre race.
Falcon flies high in high jump
Evan Lukash of the Marion M. Graham Collegiate Falcons had one of his most memorable days at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships on June 6 at the Track and Field Track. Lukash claimed gold in the senior boys’ high jump with a leap of 1.96 metres.
It is fun to be a cow
The second day of the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships held at the Track and Field Track on June 6 had some special break time entertainment just past the halfway point of the day. A group of athletes volunteered to dress up in cow suits to participate in a relay race down the front straightaway, take part in long jump and try high jump. The efforts were made to give the crowd some laughs. Some of the athletes are shown here in a group picture on the track. Kudos to SaskMilk for organizing this bit of fun. During the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships, a total of 5,000 persons including athletes, coaches, officials and spectators passed through the Track and Field Track during each of the event’s two days.
