McCullough rolls for Canada in photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Devon McCullough checks a signal from the pitching circle.

Devon McCullough was tuned up in peak form like a 1969 Dodge Charger on a drag strip.

The 34-year-old veteran pitcher and local product suited up for Canada’s National Men’s Team to play in the Super 8 International Men’s Fast Pitch 4 Nations Cup from July 3 to 5 on the familiar ground of Bob Van Impe Stadium. Growing up in Montgomery Place, McCullough is extremely familiar with the storied facility located at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

On July 3, McCullough had a perfect game going after five complete innings in Canada’s opening contest of the 4 Nations Cup against Japan. He was pulled with Canada holding a 3-0 advantage for closer Justin Schofield. Schofield closed out the final two innings allowing Canada to post a 3-1 victory.

Devon McCullough sets in his wind up playing for Canada.

McCullough’s next action would come when he got the start in the Championship Game of the 4 Nations Cup on July 5. He threw six complete innings giving up just one run as Canada held a slim 2-1 advantage over New Zealand before giving way for Schofield to pitch the seventh. Schofield closed out the 2-1 win with three consecutive strikeouts as Canada claimed the 4 Nations Cup.

During the 4 Nations Cup, McCullough’s play brought back memories of the 2015 International Softball Federation Men’s World Championship Tournament held on the Complex grounds. In the championship game played on July 5^th of that year, McCullough, who was the youngest player on Canada’s roster at age 24, threw the final four-and-two-third innings for the Canadian side striking out eight batters, while scattering one hit and five walks. His performance allowed Canada to rally from a 5-0 deficit to post a 10-5 victory.

Our lead picture for this photo roundup shows McCullough in the pitching circle in the 4 Nations Cup final this past July 5 getting a sign before he delivers a pitch. The second photo displays McCullough in a wind up during the 4 Nations Cup title contest. The third photo sees McCullough unloading a rocket throw to home plate in Canada’s tournament opening game against Japan on July 3.

Devon McCullough unloads a heater to home plate.

Following the 4 Nations Cup victory that saw Canada post a 4-0 record, the Canadian side traveled to Prince Albert to take part in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup that started on July 8 and is slated to run through to July 13 at Prime Ministers’ Park. New Zealand also heads to the World Cup after posting a 1-3 mark at the 4 Nations Cup.

Along with the pictures of McCullough, this photo roundup includes more shots from the 4 Nations Cup. The photo roundup also includes other scenes from baseball, football, softball and track and field.

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 16 shots we hope you enjoy.

Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame bound

Larry Pavloff, left, and Sherry Anderson shake hands at a news conference to announce the 2025 class for the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame held on June 11 at Gordie Howe Sports Centre building. Pavloff is heading to the Hall as an athlete for his exploits in softball. Anderson is going to the Hall as the skip of her senior curling teams from 2016 to 2023 that won five Canadian titles and three world championships. Her foursome included Patty Hersikorn at third, Brenda Goertzen at second and Anita Silvernagle at lead. The official induction dinner will take place on Saturday, November 1 at Prairieland Park.

Up and over

A trio of athletes leap over their respective hurdles in the women’s 100-metre hurdles final that was part of the Canada Summer Games Trials held on June 15 at the Track and Field Track. The Canada Summer Games Trials and the U12, U14 and Masters Provincial Track and Field Championships run by Saskatchewan Athletics took part over two days concluding on that June 15^th day.

Run with power

Saskatoon Valkyries star running back Sarah Wright rumbles her way past a trio of tacklers from the Regina Riot in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference Final playing on June 21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In a contest that was played mainly in a downpour, Wright scored the game’s only touchdown as the Valkyries blanked the Riot 9-0.

Valkyries team photo time

The Saskatoon Valkyries pose for the customary team photo after blanking the Regina Riot 9-0 in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference Final on June 21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Valkyries would move on to win their 10^th WWCFL championship prevailing in the league’s championship game 28-0 over the host Edmonton Arctic Pride on June 28 at Commonwealth Stadium.

Eyeing up the coverage

Blitz quarterback Nicole Braun eyes up the downfield coverage during Saskatoon Touch Football League action on June 23 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Blitz came away with a 39-9 victory over Can’t Catch This during this contest as Braun threw five touchdown passes.

Sliding in safe

A Saskatoon Raiders base runner slides in safely at second base in a game against the Saskatoon Hustlers in action in the League Championships for the Saskatoon Minor Softball League played on June 29 at the Indoor Training Centre. Due to heavy rains that fell the previous day, the younger age groups continued their League Championships at the Indoor Training Centre due to the outdoor diamonds at the Complex being waterlogged.

Set to deliver

Tanner Hosick kicks the leg up to deliver a pitch for the Saskatoon Berries in a WCBL regular season clash against the Regina Red Sox on June 30 at Cairns Field. Hosick threw the final two innings of that game for the Berries and picked up the save in a 12-10 victory played before 2,058 spectators.

Running for fun

A trio of youngsters run the bases at Cairns Field after the Saskatoon Berries down the Regina Red Sox 12-10 in a WCBL regular season contest on June 30. Since the Berries first took the field in 2024, it has become tradition for youngsters to run the bases for a good time following the team’s home games.

Sutherland returns to home track

Star track and field athlete Savannah Sutherland returned to train at the Track and Field Track on July 2 following the conclusion of her NCAA career with the University of Michigan Wolverines Women’s Track and Field Team. The Borden product, who competed for Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, ended her time in the NCAA in impressive fashion. At the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship on June 14 in Eugene, Oregon, Sutherland won the 400-metre women’s hurdles championship race in a time of 52.46 seconds. Sutherland’s time was a new Canadian record, a new NCAA record and the ninth fastest time ever recorded in the 400-metre women’s hurdles. A catch up story with Sutherland can be found on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex website by clicking right here.

Happy homer

Koki Sato, who is the left-fielder for Team Japan, was all smiles after hitting a solo shot home run for his squad in a game against Canada played at the Super 8 International Men’s Fast Pitch 4 Nations Cup held on July 3 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Japan ultimately dropped a tightly contested contest 3-1.

Eye on the ball

Team Canada first baseman Colin Walsh catches a foul ball for an out against New Zealand in a contest played at the Super 8 International Men’s Fast Pitch 4 Nations Cup held on July 4 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Canada would prevail 4-2 in that encounter over New Zealand.

Tracking the ball in

Team New Zealand catcher Cam Watts tracked a ball into his glove in a game against Canada that was played at the Super 8 International Men’s Fast Pitch 4 Nations Cup held on July 4 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. New Zealand ultimately fell in that clash 4-2.

Fist bumps for the win

United States third baseman Blaine Milheim and catcher Tyler Damon do a fist bump after their squad slips past Japan 2-1 in the third-place game of the Super 8 International Men’s Fast Pitch 4 Nations Cup held on July 5 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The United States completed the event with a 2-2 record, while Japan had a 1-3 mark.

Trophy time

Team Canada captain Shane Boland, left, receives the championship trophy from Bryan Kosteroski, who is the President of the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association, after Canada took the Championship Game of the Super 8 International Men’s Fast Pitch 4 Nations Cup held on July 5 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Canada finished the 4 Nations Cup with a 4-0 record.

Team Canada thanks the fans

Following their Championship Game win at the Super 8 International Men’s Fast Pitch 4 Nations Cup on July 5, members from Team Canada salute the fans at Bob Van Impe Stadium. After the tournament win, Canada departed to Prince Albert to compete in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup that was set to run July 8 to 13.

Top level snag

Saskatoon Berries right-fielder Evan Janner makes a challenging catch in a WCBL regular season contest on July 8 at Cairns Field. The Berries fell just short dropping a 9-8 decision that day to the Moose Jaw Miller Express, but Saskatoon still sat first overall in the WCBL with a 27-5 record.

Reindl follows ultra-busy family track and field legacy

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Jason Reindl is one of Canada’s best track and field coaches.

In track and field especially on a coaching front, Jason Reindl seemingly does it all.

The 40-year-old has served as the head coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field and Cross-Country Teams since the start of the 2017-18 campaign. Reindl can coach athletes as young as eight years old all the way to 90-years-old. No matter who he coaches, Reindl is driven by optimism of what could possibly be.

“I’d say one of the biggest things is the future isn’t written,” said Reindl, who basically lives at the Track and Field Track on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds during the spring and summer months coaching athletes. “I’ve learned that no matter how much success or lack of success someone had today, the unknowns of the future are kind of what drive me to kind of push to help these individuals.”

Reindl began coaching in his teenage years while attending high school at Evan Hardy Collegiate and still competing in track and field as an athlete. He began coaching one day a week on Thursdays with the Saskatoon Track Club working with athletes around the age of 10. Reindl attended various coaching courses on weekends during his high school days leading to his graduation from Evan Hardy in 2002.

Since the start of January 1, 2024, his life schedule has been a whirlwind.

He coached his Huskies team through that time and saw the Women’s Track and Field Team win Canada West Conference Championships in February of 2024 and this past February for a run of seven straight conference title victories.

The Huskies Women’s 4 X 800-metre relay team won a Canada West title in February 2024 and a U Sports Championship in March of 2024 and was named Sask Sport’s Team of the Year for 2024 this past January. On Saturday, the Huskies Women’s Track and Field Team captured the bronze medal at the U Sports Track and Field Championships in Windsor, Ontario.

Reindl has been heavily involved with the Running Wild Athletic Club in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan Aboriginal Track and Field. He holds assistant coach roles with Saskatoon Track Club and supports Huskies athletes with Riversdale Athletics Club.

With Saskatchewan Athletics, Reindl is the master coach developer for the province, which is a fairly large role when to comes to coaching education helping future coaches. He was the personal coach for Michelle Harrison at the Summer Olympics in Paris that ran from July 26, 2024 to August 11, 2024.

Jason Reindl has coached track and field since high school.

Reindl was the sprints, hurdles and relays coach with Team Canada for World Under-20 Championships that ran August 27 to 31, 2024 in Lima, Peru. 

On the national front when it comes to education for track and field, Reindl was the lead combined events presenter for Athletics Canada in Winnipeg in October and sits on the national coach education committee. He is also a board member for the Coaching Association of Canada and Saskatchewan Athletics.

Again, those were all the roles Reindl has fulfilled for about the last 14-and-a-half months. He jokes he has to thank “caffeine” for allowing him to do all those roles.

On the serious side, Reindl said it helped that his parents in mother, Caren, and father, Bob, were great role models. 

During their lives, Caren (Rathie) and Bob were star track and field athletes and have served in numerous coaching and administrative capacities for the sport.

“I’ve been able to see a lot of amazing people through their network,” said Jason Reindl. “I would kind of say in my teenage years where you start to realize who you can kind of call upon for advice.

“Having the last name Reindl within the track and field and kind of the sport coaching community was a significant blessing, because I was able to inquire, ask questions and get a lot of support, but also see people in action. At the same time, I’ll say I know I’m blessed, and you know, the opportunities have come with hard work. It has been an interesting last couple of years we’ll say.”

When it comes to the highlight over the 14-and-a-half months, Reindl backs up the calendar to October 7, 2023 and said the highlight was marrying his longtime partner Rebecca Goldie, who competes in triathlons. For his coaching career, Reindl said getting to coach at the Olympics was the highlight.

He said the Olympics had a unique aura, but when it came to coaching and the execution of the track and field part of the games, it was normal to most other international events. While he was Harrison’s personal coach, Reindl said it was special to have two other athletes he worked with at the Olympics.

When Reindl lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and coached the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds before joining the Huskies, he coached 110-metre hurdler Craig Thorne. Thorne is based out of Guelph, Ontario, now.

Michelle Harrison, left, and Jason Reindl chat at a practice last May.

Reindl also coached 400-metre hurdler Savannah Sutherland. The bulk of that coaching happened in Saskatoon before Sutherland joined the University of Michigan Wolverines Track and Field Team in the fall of 2021. 

The veteran coach also worked with Sutherland for short periods of time when she returned home to visit family in her hometown of Borden, which is located 53 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

“It was pretty, pretty special that I was able to kind of give high-fives to three different athletes that I had an impact on at various stages of their career,” said Reindl. “It was very special and definitely the highlight at present.”

Reindl said getting to coach Harrison racing in the 100-metre hurdles was emotional and meaningful as the culmination of a big journey.

“It is hard to even put into words how remarkable and impactful it was,” said Reindl. “I actually can go back and say that when I was coaching the Saskatoon Track Club one day a week Michelle was one of those first athletes in the group.

“Not only was I one of her first coaches in her career when she was 10-years-old, the fact that we got back together in 2017 and had the next seven years from her and I both moving back to Saskatoon all the way to three national titles, university accolades, six national teams and culminating with the Olympic Games was pretty special. It is a journey that not a lot of coaches get to have.”

Harrison returned to Saskatoon in 2017 after training at the high-performance hub in Toronto from 2015 to 2017. She was injured most of the time she was at the hub and became disillusioned with track and field.

Upon returning to Saskatoon, Harrison got back in touch Reindl and rejoined the Huskies after being part of the program previously winning gold at the U Sports Championships in the 60-metre hurdles in 2014. After rejoining Huskies with Reindl as head coach, things took off for Harrison at that point.

“Jason (Reindl) was a major turning point in my career as an athlete, changing things for the better,” said Harrison, who turned 32-years-old in December. “He has been a constant source of guidance, belief and support throughout my journey.

Jason Reindl loves being at the Track and Field Track.

“He’s pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of while always having my back through the toughest moments. His dedication and passion for the sport are contagious, and his ability to balance accountability with encouragement has helped shape me into the athlete and person I am today. I’m incredibly grateful for everything he’s done, from the tough workouts to the words of wisdom that go far beyond the track.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”

Now, Harrison is expecting her first child with husband, Graeme Harrison. Reindl said it is always special to see his athletes embark on their paths outside of the sport.

“I think it is just that full circle where one journey ends and another begins,” said Reindl. “The number of athletes that I’ve been a part of their journeys that are married, have kids, have successful careers, MDs, PhDs, you name it.

“It is never lost on me the important of all of that. I guess the recency effect the time that Michelle and I spent together and seeing her grow and develop as a young woman to now her soon to be a mom is just a pretty cool thing. We just have a special relationship, and I am extremely proud of her.”

During the spring and summer and the month of September, Reindl enjoys coaching athletes of all ages at the Track and Field Track since it opened in the spring of 2019. He said the facility has developed a great upbeat vibe.

“It is just a fun place to be,” said Reindl. “I say a lot of coaches get the opportunity to kind of have a home.

“To get the chance to go to Gordie and know that I can execute my tasks to help these athletes achieve their goals with the equipment on hand and all the space, it is a blessing. It is something that I do not take for granted, because traveling the world and going to areas where you might have a track or you might have rubber, might not mean you have grass or it might not mean you have space to do medicine ball throws. There are a lot of intangibles that come around the whole facility.

“This year we’re actually going to have our first Huskies track and field sport camps there in the first two weeks of July. Getting the opportunity to kind of make that connection even stronger between our Huskie development side of things into that facility is something we’re really looking forward to.”

Jason Reindl, centre, enjoys coaching the Huskies.

As he continues coaching, Reindl always strives to help his athletes be the best they can be.

“I guess bringing that back to the Huskie side of things, the last couple of years we’ve brought in some athletes who were OK coming out of high school that have turned into all-Canadians national medalists,” said Reindl, who was a Huskies track athlete from 2002 to 2006 and a member of the U Sports men’s and women’s double title win in 2005. “I can’t promise that everyone will be an Olympian, but I can promise you will get better.”

Albers’ next chapter

Pro-pitcher brings end to playing days to focus on coaching

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Andrew Albers, right, gives a pointer to a player.

Andrew Albers said his arm was telling him his pitching days were near an end.

The left-hander from North Battleford, Sask., represented Canada at the World Baseball Classic this past March and the Pan Am Games Qualifier this past June. At the World Baseball Classic, Canada posted a 2-2 record playing all its contests in Phoenix, Arizona, and didn’t advance out of pool play.

At the Pan Am Games Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Canada posted a 3-1 record, but didn’t make the tournament final coming up short in the Team Quality Balance tiebreaker. Panama, who Canada beat 6-5 in eight innings in preliminary round play, won the final and earned the last berth to the Pan Am Games, which wrapped up on November 5.

With Canada being unable to advance to the Pan Am Games, the Pan Am Games Qualifier turned out to be Albers final event as a player, which brought an end to a career that spanned 15 years as a professional including stops in the MLB with the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners from 2013 to 2021.

“I think the career is pretty much over,” said Albers, who turned 38-years-old on October 6. “I was able to get the arm going for a couple of tournaments with the national team.

“Unfortunately after those tournaments, I was a little bit sore. I kind of figured it was probably about time to hang them up. It seemed like kind of a logical progression kind of going through it.

“Some opportunities came up with Going Yard here and then with the (Western Canadian Baseball League’s Saskatoon) Berries. It definitely seemed like good opportunities for me to kind stay in the game, and hopefully, pass on some knowledge that I’ve gained over the years.”

With that, Albers decided to leave his playing days behind and focus on becoming a full-time coach. During the off-seasons in the later part of his career, Albers sharpened his craft at the Going Yard Training Centre, which ultimately led to him helping coach all the other pitchers at Going Yard. He also got out fairly frequently to help out players coming up in province’s minor baseball system in various training sessions.

Andrew Albers, left, enjoys working with player at Going Yard.

On October 12, Going Yard announced Albers had come on board as a full-time coach. Before that announcement, the Berries announced on September 12 that Albers joined the club as a pitching coach on head coach Joe Carnahan’s staff as the club embarks on its inaugural campaign in 2024 playing home games out of Cairns Field.

Albers found he always enjoyed helping young players, so he was thankful to get the coaching opportunities with Going Yard and the Berries.

“I think the best thing is just working with the kids,” said Albers, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds. “You’re trying to work with kids who are trying to realize their own personal dreams going through this game.

“Just seeing them progress. If you can give them a tip here or there that you hope helps them progress in their journey, I think that is the rewarding part about coaching in general. That is kind of why you do it.

“You try to have an impact on some kids. If you can manage to do that with a few of them, you feel like you’ve done a decent job.”

Albers said the crew at Going Yard had planted the idea in his head about coming on board in a full-time capacity when his playing days were done. The North Battleford, Sask., product felt like he found a home at Going Yard and at the facilities on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

“Jordan (Draeger) had talked to me a couple of the past off-seasons, when the baseball season was over or the baseball career was over to talk to him about it,” said Albers. “You know, it was an opportunity where it just seemed kind of natural.

“Having been here the last couple of years kind of working out in the facility with the kids and hanging around them and things like that, it was a place I felt comfortable coming and being apart of. I know Jordan (Draeger), Matty (Kosteniuk) and Marshall (Dean), they’ve done a great job here developing the brand. I feel like they do things the right way and do a great job with their kids teaching the game of baseball.

Andrew Albers will work the Berries as a pitching coach.

“Again, it was a pretty comfortable transition, and I felt good about doing it.”

Albers said the opportunity to join the Berries was a cool surprise. Way back in 2004, he played with Saskatoon’s previous WCBL team, the Yellow Jackets, when the circuit was known as the Western Major Baseball League. 

Still, he wasn’t sure what the Berries’ plans were.

“That one wasn’t quite as clear cut,” said Albers. “(President of Baseball Operations) Steve (Hildebrand) approached me when he had mentioned that they were bringing the team back here and asked if I might be interested in helping out in some way shape or form.

“I was more than happy to be apart of that. The coaching side seemed logical and seemed like a pretty obvious progression. Obviously, Joe (Carnahan) is going to be the manager there, and he has a great background with that league being a player and former coach that has won it both ways.

“It is going to be exciting working with him. Certainly, the ownership group that is behind them it is going to be a lot of fun. From my own personal standpoint, getting to work a little bit higher level with college players, collegiate players coming over and playing in that league, I’m looking forward to that as well.”

While Albers has transitioned to the coaching side of his baseball life, he admits his competitive side left him feeling he wanted to obtain more accomplishments in his playing career like staying in the MLB a little bit longer.

After taking time to look at things from a different lens, Albers will leave behind his playing days with no regrets.

“You always felt like you could have done a little bit better,” said Albers.“When I look back on it objectively and think about what I had from a talent standpoint and the gifts that I had, I do feel like I overachieved, so at the end of the day, I feel pretty content with the career I had.

Andrew Albers, right, grins at something a player tells him.

“I was very fortunate. I got to do it a lot longer than most guys and got to meet a lot of great people and had a lot of great experiences a long the way. As far as that goes, you get paid to play a game.

“I was fortunate to do it for about 15 years. It doesn’t really get much better than that at the end of the day. Am I content? Sure. Would I have wanted more? Absolutely.”

For more information on the Going Yard Training Centre, feel free to check out their website at www.gyba.ca. For more information on the Saskatoon Berries Baseball Club, feel free to check out their website at www.saskatoonberriesbaseballclub.ca.

Softball all about family for McCullough

Veteran coach heads to Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Adrianne Vangool, left, and Dave McCullough shake hands.

For Dave McCullough, softball is about family.

He got into the sport coaching his sons Devon and Darren and daughter Brielle (McCullough) Frohaug. While he was coaching, the players on the teams he coached and their families became like family.

With those connections, McCullough’s teams have won a total of 27 provincial championships over 22 years. During his time involved with softball, going into any type of sports hall of fame was never a thought that crossed McCullough’s mind.

That all changed on June 14, when the 2023 class for the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame was announced at a press conference at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building. McCullough was named as part of the 2023 class in the builders’ category for his contributions to the sport of softball as a coach and administrator.

“When I found out about being inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, I was speechless,” said McCullough. “Being nominated was an accomplishment but being accepted was overwhelming.

“(It is an) unbelievable feeling going into the Hall and being in there with some of the best athletes and builders is a true honor.”

McCullough will be joined in the 2023 class by two other inductees in the builders’ category in Derek Bloski for hockey and softball and Ivan Tam in athletics. Entering the Hall in the athletes category are Jeff Adamson in wrestling, Kelly Parker in Soccer, Kathy (Rollo) Seaman in diving, Adrianne Vangool in athletics and Heather Witzel in basketball.

Brielle (McCullough) Frohaug hits a homer for the G-Force in 2021.

The Saskatoon Outlaws softball teams that won Canadian Junior Women’s Championships in 2008, 2010 and 2011 will be going into the Hall in the team category. The WHL’s Saskatoon Blades were honoured by the Hall as the Sports Organization of the Year. The induction ceremonies will be held in the evening on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Prairieland Park.

“It feels pretty good to be inducted with the group that is being induct this year,” said McCullough. “The Outlaws were an outstanding ladies team that I had the opportunity to coach against in senior ladies Div. 1 ball when the Saskatoon G-Force moved up from minor to the ladies league.

“They (the Outlaws) were a great bunch of ladies with a huge amount of talent.”

McCullough said the biggest blessing he got in softball was the fact he was able to coach his kids to this very day. Devon and Darren play on the Saskatoon Angels senior men’s team, while Brielle suits up for the Saskatoon G-Force senior women’s team.

“To have coached all my kids has been the opportunity any father could wish for,” said McCullough. “That feeling is still going on as I am still coaching both my daughter’s team the G-Force and the Saskatoon Angels.

Devon McCullough in 2015. (Photo by Louis Christ)

“The best part is they love the game of softball as much as I do.”

While McCullough has made many great memories with sport, his most memorable moment came in 2013, when he served as an assistant coach for Brielle’s Saskatoon Scotiabank Selects midget girls’ team. The Selects made the Canadian Midget Girls’ Championship Tournament held in Charlottetown, P.E.I., in August of 2013.

The Selects advanced to the championship game, where they downed the White Rock Renegades from B.C. 2-1. Brielle scored on a bases loaded walk in the top of first inning. In the top of the sixth inning, Brielle drove in the winning run nailing a triple into the left centre-field gap to score Ally Gallant from first base.

The Selects became the first team from Saskatoon to win a midget girls’ national title. The core of that squad makes up the current G-Force senior women’s team.

“My most rememberable memory would be winning Canadians with the Selects for the first time and beating White Rock from B.C. in Prince Edward Island,” said McCullough. “It was an amazing feeling as it was the first time a midget girls’ team from Saskatoon had won it.”

The core group from that Selects team would win a Canadian Junior Women’s Championship as the Saskatoon Co-Op G-Force in 2016, and McCullough was an assistant coach with that squad. Last year, McCullough was the head coach of the G-Force as they won Softball Saskatchewan’s Women’s A Provincial Championship at Joe Gallagher Field. The G-Force slipped past the Carnduff Southeast Steelers 1-0.

“Winning never gets old,” said McCullough reflecting on last year’s provincial title win by the G-Force. “It gets better each time you go into a big contest and your team digs down and gives everything they have and leaves it on the field.

“It is amazing to watch. I have been blessed to have coached on both the men’s and women’s teams extremely talented athletes that never say never. (They) just get on the train and let’s ride.”

The G-Force pictured after winning a provincial title in 2022.

Another one of his best memories from the sport came from being a proud spectator dad. In 2015, Saskatoon hosted the International Softball Federation Men’s World Championship tournament, and Devon was a 24-year-old pitcher on the host Canadian national team side.

Canada made the event’s championship game taking on powerhouse and defending champion New Zealand at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Devon entered that contest in the top of the third inning with Canada trailing 4-0.

He pitched a gem the rest of the way allowing Canada to rally for a 10-5 victory. That contest became one of the signature moments in the history of the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

“Man, what a feeling to see your son come in the 3rd inning and pitch the team to victory and the gold medal at the world championships,” said McCullough. “It was a moment in my life I will never forget with 7,500 fans yelling ‘Devo, Devo.’

“It’s an absolute rush and for him to strike out some of the best batters was such a great way to rap up the tournament.”

While the upcoming Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame induction has helped McCullough reflect on his career in softball, he still expects to make more memories in the sport.

Part of the 2023 Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame class with Dave McCullough.

“My family is very involved in the sport of softball, and my future all depends on when my drive for the game runs out, which could be never,” said McCullough. “As I have now taken on the 2025 Canada games team for Sask., it looks like I am going to be around for a while yet.

“The game of softball has been my passion and a game that would be hard to say goodbye to. For now, my future is up in the air and I will take each year step by step.”

Harrison, Ostertag tackle busy outdoor track season

Pair gets chance to represent Canada internationally

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Michelle Harrison and Nicole Ostertag are track and field standouts.

Michelle Harrison and Nicole Ostertag are continuing to keep Saskatoon’s great track and field tradition on the map.

Harrison and Ostertag are part of the current generation of a long line of athletes that have come from Saskatoon and excelled in the track and field world. Harrison, who is 29-years-old, won the women’s 100-metre hurdles final at the Canadian Olympic track and field trials that doubled as the Canadian nationals in June of 2021, and Ostertag, who is 22-years-old, is a national standout in the women’s heptathlon.

Both will compete in the Canadian Track and Field Championships that run later this month from June 22 to 26 in Langley, B.C. Both have represented Canada on the international stage and aim to continue representing Canada in future internationals events.

“It is definitely a privilege to work with athletes of their calibre,” said Jason Reindl, who is the head coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field teams and is a high-performance track and field coach in Saskatoon. “It is just always fun to see where they go, where they can compete and the opportunities that kind of present themselves at the highest levels of the sport.”

Harrison, who is an alumna of the Huskies track program, represented Canada at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, where she finished in a tie for 15^th overall in the women’s 60-metre hurdles. In April, Harrison took part in a training camp in California and won the 100-metre women’s hurdles title in the Bryan Clay Invitational, the Beach Invitational and the Steve Scott Invitational, which were all held in that state.

Also in April, Harrison traveled to Eugene, Oregon, and took the women’s 100-metre hurdles title at the Oregon Relays.

Michelle Harrison competed at indoor worlds in March.

On May 21, Harrison took the 100-metre women’s hurdles final at the Johnny Loaring Classic in Windsor, Ont., and on June 5, she topped the 100-metre women’s hurdles field at La Classique d’Athlétisme de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec.

“The indoor season started out well,” said Harrison, who stands 5-foot-6. “I was able to make the world indoor team, which was my standard for the indoor season, so I was able to achieve that goal.

“I’m hoping to just use that momentum and move forward into outdoors and hopefully be able to make the world outdoor team as well. My hope is to run the world standard this year, which is 12.84 (seconds).”

She did indeed run the world standard. On June 8 at the Royal City Inferno Track and Field Festival in Guelph, Ont., Harrison ran a personal best time twice with her fastest run in the 100-metre hurdles coming in at 12.80 seconds. Her second fastest time at that event of 12.83 seconds also bested the world standard.

Harrison aims to compete in the World Athletics Championships that run July 15 to 24 in Eugene, Oregon. Following worlds, she would like to take part in the Commonwealth Games, which run July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England.

After the Commonwealth Games, Harrison would like to compete at the North American, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Senior Championships slated for August 19 to 21 in Grand Bahama, Bahamas.

Harrison has enjoyed getting back into a steady competition schedule after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world caused numerous cancellations in 2020 and 2021.

“I think the best part is just getting out and having some consistency, where as the past two years you never really knew what was going on more than like a couple of days ahead of time,” said Harrison. “I really like having a plan and being able to like have relative certainty these X-amount of meets are going to happen and be able to get in consecutive workouts as well especially because I dealt with lots of injuries during COVID.

Nicole Ostertag is quickly putting up good results in the heptathlon.

“It was just nice getting in some consistent training and having a plan moving forward.”

Ostertag is still a relative newcomer to track and field having taken up the sport in her Grade 12 year at Holy Cross High School in 2017-18. She is currently a member of the Huskies track team.

A lower leg injury sidelined her for the 2021-22 U Sports season with the Huskies, and she got back more in the swing of things around the time she joined Harrison in California for that training camp in April. Ostertag returned to full training about a week before she left for the training camp in California.

Taking part in the Bryan Clay Invitational, she placed second among 25 competitors in her division in the women’s heptathlon.

The women’s heptathlon includes the 200-metre race, the 800-metre race, the 100-metre hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin throw.

Ostertag’s result at the Bryan Clay Invitational allowed her to earn a spot to represent Canada at the at the NACAC Combined Events Championship that ran May 14 and 15 in Ottawa, Ont. At that event, Ostertag, who was representing Canada for the first time in her track and field career, placed second in the women’s heptathlon setting personal bests in the 200-metre race, the 800-metre race, the 100-metre hurdles, high jump, long jump and javelin throw.

Due to lost training time because of her injury troubles, Ostertag is still looking to round into top form.

“I haven’t done as much training as I would have liked, but it is coming along quickly,” said Ostertag, who stands 5-foot-8. “I’m surprising myself I guess.

Michelle Harrison has her sights set on making worlds in July.

“I have been able to work on my endurance and my strength and kind of working out some imbalances in my body, so that is serving me well. I’ve been a bit rusty with the technical side of things, but we’ve been able to do a lot more work. It is not ideal preparation, but it is how it has to be.

“You’ve always got to be adaptable with combined events too. There is a little more wiggle room.”

Ostertag will join Harrison at the Canadian Track and Field Champions. Following that event, Ostertag has her sights set on competing at the Canada Games that will run August 6 to 21 in Niagara, Ont., before returning to the U of S to rejoin the Huskies and continue her academic studies in kinesiology.

“Winning nationals would be the ultimate goal for this season,” said Ostertag. “Canada Games is in August, and I would also love to win that one as well.

“I’m actually happy to be able to compete in Canada and have a little bit more of a low-key summer.”

Reindl expects Harrison and Ostertag to make noise in the track and field world for some time to come. He said their ability to zero in and complete what they need to do in training on a day to day basis helps them excel in track and field at an elite level. 

When they are in Saskatoon, Reindl said it has been big for them to train at the Track and Field Track and Indoor Training Centre at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

Nicole Ostertag is aiming for first at nationals and Canada Games.

“Their mindset and just ability to focus and get the work that they need to get in is a testament to them and their characters as strong women,” said Reindl. “Having facilities like the Gordie Howe Sports Complex here and the Indoor Training Centre and Ignite Athletics are really the other pieces of the puzzle.

“You can have all the determination in the world, but you need to have somewhere to go and somewhere to train and somewhere to work. This is why on a Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. we’re able to come out here and have a focused high-quality training environment, which is truly world class for what we are trying to achieve.”

McCullough’s day at Bob Van Impe

Saskatoon product powered Canada to golden comeback

Devon McCullough in 2015. (Photo by Louis Christ)

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Devon McCullough wasn’t walking into an unenviable situation, when he entered the championship game of the 2015 International Softball Federation Men’s World Championship tournament.

Playing in front of his hometown fans on July 5 of that year at Bob Van Impe Stadium, McCullough entered the contest to pitch relief for Canada in the top of the third inning against powerhouse and defending champion New Zealand.

New Zealand had just taken a 4-0 lead with one out and had a runner on second.

Despite the tough circumstances, McCullough remembered the 7,000 in attendance that night hadn’t given up on the Canadian side.

“The crowd was going nuts, and it was loud,” said McCullough, who was the youngest player on Canada’s roster at age 24 at that time. “It was pretty much the biggest moment I’ve been in I figure in my life especially up until then.

“I was definitely a little nervous going in, but I was also excited at the same time.”

McCullough’s first task was to stop New Zealand from potentially running away with the game at that point. He got the first batter out he faced on a groundout.

He proceeded to hit the next batter he faced with a pitch. Following that development, the Canadian coaching staff elected to load the bases by intentionally walking the next batter.

After loading the bases, McCullough walked the next batter he faced allowing New Zealand to go up 5-0.

He proceeded to stop the New Zealand rally at that point with a strikeout to end the top half of the inning. McCullough said getting that strikeout to strand three runners on base proved to be key to help his side start to get some traction.

Devon McCullough (#24) fires a pitch. (Photo by Jordan Silbernagel)

“That was a big game changer,” said McCullough. “If I give up a hit there or something, they could have scored three runs right off of that.

“The game could have been done right there.”

Canada’s offence proceeded to come to life after that. The Canadians scored four runs in the bottom of the third to cut New Zealand’s lead to 5-4 changing the complexion of the contest.

McCullough pitched a scoreless top of the fourth, and in the bottom of the fourth, Canada scored four more runs to go ahead 8-5. The younger chucker said the excitement rose for the host country as momentum had totally changed sides.

“The whole atmosphere in the dugout had changed,” said McCullough. “Everyone was standing up and loud.

“I think we pretty much knew by that point that we weren’t going to be stopped that day. We were just on a roll.”

Canada scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to cement a 10-5 victory.

McCullough pitched the rest of the contest to pick up the win striking out eight batters while scattering one hit and five walks over four-and-two-thirds innings. Throughout the game, he heard chants of “Devo” coming from the crowd.

Devon McCullough was the hero. (Photo by Jordan Silbernagel)

He put down the last two batters he faced in the top of the seventh with swinging strikeouts. After he recorded the final out, McCullough couldn’t believe the energy rush.

“It was like a shock almost,” said McCullough. “It was like, ‘Holy (explanative) we just won.’

“It was pretty much just yard sale everything.”

Since age 13, McCullough played numerous games at Bob Van Impe Stadium leading up to that world championship win. He has continued to play many more games at his hometown park and remains a member of the national team at age 29.

He has played at two world tournaments with Canada since earning bronze medals each time out.

While McCullough would love to help Canada win another world championship, he doesn’t expect anything will surpass winning it all representing his country in his hometown. When you add in the fact he was winning pitcher that helped turn around a dire situation, it becomes a fairy-tale script.

“It was awesome,” said McCullough. “I’ve told everyone that it doesn’t matter whether I go out and play and win anything else in ball, but nothing will ever top that.

“That is the number one thing that you probably would ever want as any ball player would want.”

An artistic picture of Devon McCullough. (Photo by Jordan Silbernagel)

McCullough believes he has watched the video of that championship game about 100 times since it happened. He said people in Saskatoon come up and talk to him all time about that world title win, especially if he is at one of the diamonds at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex at a weekend tournament.

“I see them in the beer tent just stopping for a beer,” said McCullough. “You are just talking about it like all the time.

“It is pretty special that is for sure. No one can ever take that one away from you winning the world championship at home. It is pretty awesome to think about.

“That was a pretty awesome day.”