Carnahan relishing head coach journey with Berries

2025 WCBL coach of the year looking forward to 2026 season

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Joe Carnahan throws out a ceremonial first pitch on July 28, 2023.

Joe Carnahan couldn’t resist the opportunity to help build something from scratch with the Saskatoon Berries.

In the spring of 2023, Carnahan had been out of the WCBL for an extended stretch after resigning as the head coach and general manager of the Swift Current 57’s in September of 2020. He was contacted by Berries president Steve Hildebrand and Berries director of baseball operations Mark Campbell about coming up to Saskatoon to become the expansion team’s first ever head coach.

During those talks, Carnahan’s confidence grew that the team’s management wanted to run the franchise the right way and give the incoming head coach the resources he needed to succeed. On July 5, 2023, the Berries announced that Carnahan was hired as the team’s new head coach.

“It was pretty much a no-brainer to come up here just to have the opportunity to work with this organization and just kind of help start a team from the ground up,” said Carnahan. “It was just a great opportunity that you couldn’t pass up on.”

Having built a legendary career in the WCBL in Swift Current, Carnahan’s arrival in Saskatoon gave the Berries a huge shot of instant credibility. The product of Ashland, Wisconsin, played for Swift Current from 2001 to 2007 and helped the team win league championships in 2001, 2005 and 2006.

Carnahan was named the circuit’s most valuable player in 2002 and 2005 and was playoff MVP in 2001 and 2005. During those years, teams in the WCBL, which was then known as the Western Major Baseball League, could have players that had graduated from playing at post-secondary institutions.

Starting in 2008, Carnahan became Swift Current’s head coach, and he guided the team to league championships in 2010, 2016 and 2017. Carnahan was named the league’s coach of the year four times, when he was the skipper in Swift Current.

In coming to Saskatoon, Carnahan said the biggest unknowns regarded what the fan support would be and how the Berries operations would look on a day-to-day basis. Both exceeded his expectations. While the Berries were an expansion club in 2024, Carnahan expected the team would make some noise that season in the WCBL.

Joe Carnahan, left, shakes hands with Matthias Trondson on May 28, 2024.

“Just you know like every year, your expectations are to win, and that is why you want to do things,” said Carnahan. “That is why you know kind of the business plan was the way it was and just the way the players are treated and the resources and everything.

“It is set up to win, and that was our expectation right away. I am just fortunate enough to have built a lot of relations throughout my baseball career to help get some guys up here right away that can compete at a high level and just kind of set the foundation as far as the culture and the expectation baseball wise.”

The Berries did stumble out of the gate to a 3-8 start in 2024. Under Carnahan’s watch, they improved rapidly and finished the regular season with a 31-26 record to place Saskatoon sixth in the 12-team circuit. They turned Cairns Field into the hotspot place to be that spring and summer in Saskatoon attracting an average of 1,931 spectators for their 26 regular season home dates.

In the post-season, the Berries advanced to the WCBL’s East Division Championship Series falling in the best-of-three set 5-3 in a series deciding Game 3 to the Moose Jaw Miller Express. During that campaign, centre-fielder Carter Beck, who was raised in Carnduff, Sask., rose to star status.

In the Berries 14-1 Game 1 victory over the Express at Cairns Field in the East Division final, Beck became the first Berries player to hit for the cycle. He was named the WCBL rookie of the year and most outstanding Canadian player in 2024.

Carnahan was pleased with how far the team came in that campaign.

“We definitely had a rough start,” said Carnahan. “A lot of times in this league or summer leagues it is a matter of when you actually get the most or all of your guys up right away.

Joe Carnahan takes part in a media scrum on May 28, 2024.

“That year, we just happened to be where a lot of our pitchers were coming up a little bit later. We were a little bit thin there, and it kind of showed. Once we got everybody up here and we kind of got into a routine, then everything kind of worked out.

“We started playing a little bit better, and we made a little bit of a run in the playoffs and wish we could have got a little bit further. Moose Jaw played us well, and we just couldn’t get by them.”

Last season in year two of the franchise, the Berries hit the ground running returning a number of key players including Beck, Ethan Menard, Jalen Freeman, Bailey Sorensen, Cory Wouters and Colin Plain. The Berries would set a new WCBL record for regular season wins topping the circuit with a 46-9 record. The old record of 44 wins was set in 2024 by the Sylvan Lake Gulls.

Saskatoon proceeded to down the Miller Express 2-1 in a best-of-three East Division semifinal series. The Berries claimed a 16-12 victory in a series-deciding Game 3 with Beck hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the 10^th inning.

In the East Division final, the Berries went to a series-deciding Game 3 against the Regina Red Sox. The Red Sox claimed a 6-2 victory and advanced on to win the WCBL championships.

Carnahan would be named the WCBL coach of the year due to the outstanding regular season the Berries had. It marked the fifth time he claimed that honour in his career and the first time he did so guiding the Berries.

He said the Berries heartbreaks in the East Division final show how the level of play in the league goes up in the post-season.

“To win a championship in any league is hard,” said Carnahan. “You have short series in the playoffs, your best of threes.

Joe Carnahan, left, shakes hands with Carter Beck on Aug. 11, 2024.

“Bats can’t get cold, or it is tough to have a guy who has a tough outing or anything like that, because you don’t have a lot of time to bounce back. You’ve got to tip your hat to Regina. They played well and ended up winning the championship.

“It was a good series with them, three good games. They just came out on top, but we were right there. If something goes one way or another a different way, we might have come out on top, but tip your hat to them.”

The Berries will begin their third season on May 28 when they travel to Weyburn to take on the Beavers. Saskatoon’s home opener will be Saturday, May 30 at 4 p.m. at Cairns Field against the Beavers.

Going into the 2026 campaign, the Gordie Howe Sports Complex is working in partnership with the Berries and the Sask Entertainment Group to install 352 new seats as part of new stadium seating sections on the field behind home plate at Cairns.

The Berries will also 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.

Carnahan is looking forward to what is in store in year three for the club.

“Every year is bigger and better and there is always something new added,” said Carnahan. “This year we have the all-star weekend.

“We also have the seating expansion at Cairns (Field), which will be nice. We have a good group of guys coming back as well and a bunch of new faces. It is always exciting to see a bunch of guys from all over North American and beyond come together for a short three months to three and a half months season and kind of see how they jell and work together as a team and just be around each other every single day at the park.

Joe Carnahan, centre, works from the Berries dugout on Aug. 10, 2025.

“It is fun with just people from different areas and cultures all jelling together.”

For more information about the Saskatoon Berries and their upcoming WCBL season, feel free to check their website at www.saskatoonberriesbaseballclub.ca.

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.

Home grown from small town Saskatchewan

Road to WCBL started in Carnduff for Berries’ star Beck

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Carter Beck hits a triple to complete the cycle on August 11, 2024.

Saskatoon Berries star Carter Beck had a beginning in baseball that was made in small town Saskatchewan.

Growing up in Carnduff, which is a town with a population around 1,200 located in the southeast corner of the province, Beck’s introduction to the game came from watching his father, Blair, play senior baseball. At a very young age, there were signs baseball might be a big part of Carter’s life.

“When I was three-years-old, I was already attracted to being a bat boy,” said Beck. “I don’t think I could carry a baseball back then, but I was trying to be the bat boy.

“I went and watched like pretty much every senior baseball game he played in Carnduff on the Astros when I was younger. I can remember when I was 13-years-old I got on the lineup, because they had nine guys.

“In case someone got hurt, I was sitting (in the dugout). I was ready to go. I was pretty excited.”

Other memories from those days watching Blair play senior baseball saw a youth aged Carter running around to collect foul balls to get 25 cents for each ball he returned to the scorers table. He would gather up enough foul balls to buy a Freezee at the end of the night.

He also had fun playing catch with his father’s teammates. The baseball games also provided cherished time for Carter to be with his grandpa.

“I just loved being around the ball field watching it, playing it and getting serious with the guys,” said Beck. “It really brought me close to baseball when I was younger.”

Beck grew up playing minor baseball in Carnduff and would end up suiting up for the South East Twins baseball program that plays games out of Estevan, Weyburn and Alameda. Playing for the Twins under-18 AAA team, Beck took part in Baseball Saskatchewan’s provincial championship tournaments that were held at Cairns Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds in July of 2022 and 2023. In 2023, Beck was named the most valuable player for the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s under-18 AAA level.

Carter Beck (#20) has great speed on the base paths for the Berries.

During his journey up the minor baseball system as a player, Beck often had Blair as one of the coaches of the teams he would play on including the Twins. Those years allowed Carter to become a player that excelled in the outfield mainly at centre-field and at the plate.

Beck suited up for the Berries as a rookie in their inaugural campaign in 2024. It ended up being a spectacular campaign for Beck.

In 51 regular season games with the Berries, he posted a .374 batting average, 11 home runs, 38 runs batted in and 53 runs scored. Beck claimed awards from the WCBL as the circuit’s Rookie of the Year and Most Outstanding Canadian.

Leading up to his second season with the Berries, Beck is currently playing in the NCAA Division I ranks with the Indiana State University Sycamores Baseball Team as a sophomore.

Beck was honoured to take home a pair of league awards in his first campaign with the Berries.

“It was really cool,” said Beck. “I think I was in my eighth or ninth grade when I saw they did a top Canadian award in the WCBL.

“I said to my dad, “That would be pretty cool to get one day.” Sure enough, last year being able to do it was pretty cool. It just kind of happened with the season I had going well for me all year.

“Getting some acknowledgement, I guess for a good season, that was really cool. It is good to have a small-town Sask kid get those awards in that league too being a Saskatchewan/Alberta league.”

During his final season with the Twins in 2023, the idea of playing in the WCBL in Saskatoon popped into Beck’s head. On March 29, 2023, the Sask Entertainment Group (SEG) and the WCBL announced during a press event at the Indoor Training Centre that Saskatoon was granted a WCBL expansion franchise to begin play in May of 2024.

Carter Beck hit .374 for the Berries in the 2024 regular season.

SEG would own the team that would be dubbed the Berries after a contest was held to name the club. Along with owning the Berries, SEG also owns and operates the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and the NLL’s Saskatchewan Rush.

On July 5, 2023, the new baseball team announced that Joe Carnahan would be the club’s first head coach. He built a legacy in the WCBL in Swift Current playing for league championship teams in 2001, 2005 and 2006. Carnahan became the team’s head coach and guided them to league titles in 2010, 2016 and 2017.

When Carnahan came calling on the recruiting trail, Beck answered.

“Being in the first year definitely played a role,” said Beck. “I thought it was going to be a really cool experience.

“Just knowing like what they’ve done with the (WHL’s Saskatoon) Blades and the (NLL’s Saskatchewan) Rush and that it is all the same organization, that got me pretty excited. I just thought with the new team, there would be a lot of fans out there, and I knew they would do it right. I just wanted to play somewhere where I knew it was going to be a lot of fun and hopefully get some big crowds.

“They seemed to be the best fit.”

When Carnahan was recruiting Beck, the veteran coach knew the skill player developed a good reputation of being spectacular both at the baseball diamond and away from the game. Carnahan appreciated what Beck brought to the baseball park.

“I like just the way he plays the game,” said Carnahan. “He plays the game hard.

“He wants to win, and his skill set was very good too. The way he plays the game, he plays the game hard every pitch.”

Carter Beck takes questions during a post-game interview.

Carnahan said he got a better appreciation for how spectacular Beck was away from the diamond when the two dealt with each other on a daily basis with the Berries. Carnahan said the Berries aim to interact and be involved with the community. He was impressed with how well Beck interacted with people outside of the team and the community at large.

“He has been great,” said Carnahan. “That is exactly what we want with our organization.

“We want to have guys who are not only good players but good people. He represents our organization well, the city of Saskatoon well, his family well and now Indiana State well. He is a good ambassador for all that.

“We’re very happy to have him. He is one of a kind.”

Carnahan added that the first season Beck had with the Berries was pretty special.

“I thought he had a very good season especially for being a freshman to come in and not only contribute, but to be an impact guy defensively, offensively and with some power,” said Carnahan. “He did a great job for us all year.”

As an expansion team in 2024, the Berries went through their bumps. They started out 3-8 and improved rapidly to finish with a 31-26 record to place sixth overall on the 12-team circuit. The Berries packed Cairns Field attracting an average of 1,931 spectators for their 26 regular season home dates.

In the post-season, the Berries prevailed in a best-of-three East Division semifinal series 2-1 over the Medicine Hat Mavericks, who are annually one of the circuit’s toughest teams.

Game 1 of the best-of-three East Division Championship Series saw Beck deliver the most memorable moment in the team’s short history. In a 14-1 romp over the Moose Jaw Miller Express at Cairns Field on August 11, Beck hit for the cycle going 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs batted in.

Carter Beck signs autographs for some young Berries fans.

That meant Beck hit a single, a double, a triple and a home run all in the same game. Hitting for the cycle is one of the most difficult statistical feats to accomplish in Baseball.

With the single, double and home run under his belt, Beck came up to bat in the bottom of the seventh with a man on looking for the triple. He ultimately completed a feat that will always be a career highlight.

“My fifth at bat I came up with like we were up by 10 runs,” said Beck. “I looked at the outfield.

“I might as well try and hit the triple is what I thought. I looked at the outfield and saw that my place spot was in left field. I got a fastball away that I was able to hit over there.

“I think the left-fielder might have done a little bit of a circle to get to it. I’m sliding into third, and I’m almost over sliding the bag. Sliding into third, getting up and seeing everybody on their feet celebrating, it was really cool.”

The set with the Miller Express went to a series deciding Game 3 on August 13 at Cairns Field. The Berries season came to an end after they fell in a tight contest 5-3. They gave the fans a final salute before departing the field.

Last January 6, the Berries announced Beck as their first returnee for the 2025 campaign. The Berries open the season on Thursday, May 29 traveling to Weyburn to take on the Beavers at 7 p.m. at Tom Laing Park. They open their home schedule on Saturday, May 31 at 4 p.m. taking on the Regina Red Sox at Cairns Field.

During the 2024 campaign, Beck enjoyed having numerous family members come out to his games in Saskatoon and when the Berries played on the road against the circuit’s other Saskatchewan member teams. While 2024 was great, Beck is looking forward to a thrilling second campaign with the Berries in 2025.

“It is going to be super exciting,” said Beck. “I think people know what they are going to get now when they come to games too.

Carter Beck (#20) looks forward to the 2025 season with the Berries.

“I think everybody I talked to anyways had fun coming to those games. I know we are going to bring back some guys, and we’re going to bring back an even better team. We’re going to be really good this year, and it should be a whole lot of fun to watch seeing some of the guys we have coming this year.

“It should be a lot of fun again.”

For more information about the Saskatoon Berries and their upcoming WCBL season, feel free to check their website at www.saskatoonberriesbaseballclub.ca.