Berries WCBL title win was highlight of summer - tops photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Berries celebrate winning the WCBL championship.

The Saskatoon Berries created the best night in recent memory at Cairns Field.

On Sunday, August 16, the Berries added to the storied lore of Saskatoon’s famed baseball park. Hosting Game 2 of the WCBL Championship Series, the Berries downed the visiting Sylvan Lake Gulls 11-1 before a record crowd of 2,579 spectators. With the win, the Berries swept the best-of-three series 2-0 to become WCBL champions for the first time in just their third season of existence.

The series-clinching contest started out as a tight one with the Berries taking a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning. First baseman Josh Henson nailed a three-run home run to spark the Saskatoon side to five-run inning that surged the Berries advantage to 8-1. At that point, the party was on as the Berries cruised to victory from there.

Merek Yeager sets to unload a pitch to home plate.

After finishing fourth overall in the WCBL regular season standings with a 38-18 record, the Berries went 6-1 in the post-season closing the WCBL playoffs riding a five-game winning streak. They were 4-0 at home and 2-1 on the road.

Our lead picture for this photo roundup shows the Berries celebrating as veteran right-fielder Ethan Murdoch raised the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy that is awarded to the WCBL champions. Murdock was 1-for-2 at the plate with a pair of walks and a run scored in his final game for the Berries and his WCBL career.

The second shot sees Berries starting right-handed pitcher and Muenster, Sask., product Merek Yeager unloading a hurl to home plate during that WCBL title clinching victory. Yeager was stellar picking up the win striking out four batters and scattering seven hits and a walk over six innings.

The Berries enjoy falling confetti while posing for a team photo.

The third photo was a close up of the customary team photo the Berries took after winning the WCBL title. The Berries celebrations went long into the night with family and friends on the Cairns Field turf after that team photo.

Along with the pictures from the Berries WCBL title win, this photo roundup contains images from softball nationals including the Saskatoon Brewers making an ultimate memory. It also has shots of Saskatoon Hilltops and high school football hitting stride.

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 23 shots we hope you enjoy.

Salinas guns to first for the double-play

Saskatoon Berries second baseman and fan favourite Gael Salinas completes a double-play by firing the ball to first base after getting a force out at second base on August 12 at Cairns Field. Salinas’s key defensive play came in the third inning of Game 2 of the WCBL East Division Championship Series against the Moose Jaw Miller Express. The Berries would win that contest 7-4 to sweep the best-of-three set 2-0.

Youngsters jet for home

After the Saskatoon Berries swept the best-of-three WCBL East Division Championship Series 2-0 with a 7-4 victory in Game 2 over the Moose Jaw Miller Express on August 12 at Cairns Field, the young fans and those young at heart ran the bases at the park in what has become a regular tradition at Berries home games. This was the last time in the 2026 campaign the running the bases tradition took place as the WCBL championship celebrations would occur four days later for the Berries at Cairns Field.

Wildcats take down Hilltops

A pair of Edmonton Wildcats defenders corral Saskatoon Hilltops electrifying running back Charles Sawi during the Hilltops CJFL regular season home opener on August 16 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Wildcats pulled off a major upset prevailing 28-22.

Meeting of the minds

Sylvan Lake Gulls head coach Matt Hape and Saskatoon Berries head coach Joe Carnahan meet an umpire crew at home plate before Game 2 of the WCBL Championship Series on August 16 at Cairns Field. After exchanging lineup cards, the Berries would go on to win the contest 11-1 to claim their first WCBL title in just their third season of existence.

Berries enjoy two in the second

Saskatoon Berries first baseman Josh Henson, right, gets set to celebrate scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning that put the Berries up 3-0 at that point in time in Game 2 of the WCBL Championship Series on August 16 at Cairns Field. In the 11-1 victory that allowed the Berries to win the WCBL title, Henson was 2-for-5 at the plate with one home run and three RBI.

Kilshaw makes mark with Berries

Saskatoon Berries catcher Aiden Kilshaw sets to make a throw to second base during Game 2 of the WCBL Championship Series on August 16 at Cairns Field. The Berries would win that contest 11-1 to claim their first WCBL title. Kilshaw was an associate player who joined the Berries on a full-time basis after his final season with the Saskatoon Cubs 18U AAA team ended in late July. During the Berries WCBL playoff run where they posted a 6-1 record, Kilshaw went 9-of-27 at the plate for a .333 batting average, two home runs and 10 RBI. Kilshaw wouldn’t turn 18 until September 4.

Jam Fam backs Berries with record crowd

A record crowd 2,579 spectators turned out to support the Saskatoon Berries in Game 2 of the WCBL Championship Series that was held on August 16 at Cairns Field. They saw the Berries post an 11-1 victory to win the WCBL championship. Part of that gathering is shown here saluting the Berries after their win.

Lazaruk chats with MVP Shackelford

Saskatoon Berries play-by-play voice Les Lazaruk, left, interviews right-handed relief pitcher Wesley Shackelford after the Berries won the WCBL title on August 16 at Cairns Field. In four games of work in the WCBL post-season, Shackelford threw nine scoreless innings striking out 14 batters, while giving up one hit and one walk. In those four outings, Shackelford picked up one pitching win and three saves as the Berries went 6-1 in the post-season.

Swift Current reunion with Berries

Following the Saskatoon Berries WCBL title winning victory on August 16 at Cairns Field, head coach Joe Carnahan, left, catcher Aiden Kilshaw, centre, and right-fielder Ethan Murdoch pose for a picture with the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy. Before being hired by the Berries in July of 2023, Carnahan coached baseball in Swift Current, which included serving as the head coach of Swift Current’s WCBL franchise for a number of years. He first worked with Kilshaw and Murdoch as they came up through Swift Current’s minor baseball system. Kilshaw and his family have since relocated to Saskatoon, while Murdoch still calls Swift Current home.

Going one-on-one at home

Delisle Pride base runner Kaden Burgess comes face-to-face with a New Hamburg Mustangs catcher with the ball guarding home plate on August 22 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Pride and Ontario-based Mustangs were going head-to-head during the opening day of Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament. The Mustangs won this encounter 6-2.

Kopp brings WCBL trophy to Hilltops game

Saskatoon Berries right-handed pitcher Carter Kopp brought the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy to the Saskatoon Hilltops CJFL regular season home game on August 23 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Kopp had the trophy set up in the entrance to the football stadium for about an hour before the contest to allow fans to see the WCBL championship trophy and have their photos taken with it. Kopp also got to take part in the coin toss and a pre-game recognition for the Berries WCBL title win.

Hilltops charge to the field

The Saskatoon Hilltops make their customary entrance for their CJFL regular season home game on August 23 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field emerging out of the smoke at the opening gate of the field. The Hilltops prevailed 36-26 over the Calgary Colts on this day.

Take down

Saskatoon Hilltops outside linebacker Carson Holcomb puts the wraps on elusive Calgary Colts running back Zion Dogbe-Brown during a CJFL regular season contest on August 23 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Holcomb made five solo defensive tackles and one defensive tackle assist in the Hilltops 36-26 victory.

Batmen celebrate Canadian title win

The celebration was on for the Toronto Jr. Batmen on August 26 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. They downed the Nova Scotia Marshall Workplace Law Selects 5-1 in the title game of Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship to take the tournament title for a second straight year.

Batmen enjoy the perks of victory

The Toronto Jr. Batmen pose for the customary team photo on August 26 at Bob Van Impe Stadium after winning the title game of Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament. The Batmen finished the tourney with an 8-1 overall record.

Schaan set to do first pitch honours

Collin Schaan, who is the President and CEO of Schaan Healthcare Products Ltd., gets set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the opening ceremonies for Softball Canada’s Men’s and Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournaments on August 26 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Collin got to throw the pitch to son Spencer Schaan, who is a veteran of the Saskatoon Merchants. The Schaan family have been stellar supporters of softball in Saskatoon. They played a big part in funding improvements to the lighting, sound system and entrance to Bob Van Impe Stadium that were completed this summer.

Special delivery

Saskatoon Brewers pitcher Greg Hill lets loose with an off-speed pitch during the championship game of Softball Canada’s Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 29 at Joe Gallagher Field. The Brewers came away with a tight 2-0 victory over the Cobourg Force. The Ontario-based Force entered the tournament as the three-time defending champions.

Off to the races

Saskatoon Brewers right-fielder Ryan Olde jets down the first base line during the championship game of Softball Canada’s Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 29 at Joe Gallagher Field. Olde showed speed and base path smarts to score his team’s first run in a 2-0 win over the Cobourg Force.

Championship good times for Brewers

The Saskatoon Brewers posed for the customary team photo after winning the championship game of Softball Canada’s Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 29 at Joe Gallagher Field. The Brewers took the national title posting a 6-0 record.

Falcons fly high

Running back Thane Kooy sets to spike the ball after scoring a touchdown for the Marion M. Graham Collegiate Falcons on September 3 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Falcons were taking part in the opening game of the high school football season at SMF Field, and they would blank the Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers 36-0.

Saints’ Kohlman with the pick

Ashton Kohlman, who is a defensive back with the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints, makes an interception during a game against the Centennial Collegiate Chargers on September 3 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Saints prevailed in this contest 30-7.

Duval on fire for Stars

Running back Roman Duval takes off on a jaunt for the Bethlehem Catholic High School Stars in a high school football clash against the Evan Hardy Collegiate Souls on September 4 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Stars held a 22-14 lead at halftime and rolled to a 44-22 victory after a big second half. Duval piled up over 200 yards rushing for the Stars.

Navigating traffic

Caleb Ukrainetz, who is a receiver for the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears, jets through a swarm of players during a run in a high school football contest against the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders on September 4 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The “Friday Night Lights” game would be best remembered by the light show put on by adverse weather. This game was called with 1:42 remaining in the second quarter with the Bears leading 35-7.

Tragedy to triumph – Boyenko’s unique summer with Red Sox

Going Yard instructor helps coach Regina to WCBL title

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Brody Boyenko holds the WCBL championship trophy on Aug. 16.

It began with heartbreak no sports team should have to experience and ended with raising a league championship trophy.

When Going Yard Baseball Academy instructor Brody Boyenko joined the Regina Red Sox as an assistant coach this past May, he was looking forward to a second opportunity to coach in the WCBL. To coach with a program that has existed since 1913 playing in various leagues in its history was another bonus. He ended up getting more than he imagined during the spring and summer league baseball season.

Right at the start of the season in late May, the Red Sox were sent reeling by the tragic death of returning right-handed pitcher and Regina product Jesse Lubiniecki. The 22-year-old passed away in a single vehicle rollover in Rosebud County, Montana, on May 29.

Lubiniecki was driving home to rejoin the Red Sox after completing his season with the Taft College Cougars in Taft, California. He became a member of the Red Sox part way through the 2024 campaign.

From that unthinkable beginning, the Red Sox completed the 2025 campaign on August 16 taking a series deciding Game 3 of the WCBL Championship Series 5-4 against the host Sylvan Lake Gulls in Gulls Stadium before 1,895 spectators.

While Boyenko was obviously proud of what the Red Sox accomplished, it is still burned into his mind all the emotions the team went through when news of Lubiniecki’s unthinkable passing broke.

“That was my first experience of any athlete that I have coached or was going to coach pass away,” said Boyenko. “That whole week, it really kind of shook our team a little bit.

“The day we found out, we were actually playing a game, so even that game was tough to get through. That whole week, I just remember it was a very long and somber week. I feel like once we got through that week Jesse (Lubiniecki) was a big motivating factor behind our season after that point.”

Brody Boyenko works the first base line for the Red Sox at Cairns Field.

The Red Sox elected to keep Lubiniecki’s name tag attached to his stall and continue to have his #33 jersey hanging in his stall in the team’s dressing room at Currie Field through the entire season as a tribute. A rose was also laid inside of Lubiniecki’s stall in remembrance of the late pitcher.

On the road in the WCBL, the Red Sox encounter a number of dressing rooms that don’t have stalls in the visitor’s room. Instead of bringing Lubiniecki’s dressing room setup on the road, the Red Sox would say an “Our Father” prayer at every road park they played in to honour Lubiniecki. The Red Sox also wore a #33 patch on their jerseys to remember the late pitcher.

“Each coach, we didn’t approach players, but when we knew guys were going through it a little bit, we weren’t coaches anymore,” said Boyenko. “It was more or less person-to-person interaction, a human interaction, rather than a coach-to-player.

“It was more so trying to comfort the person in front of you rather than trying to coach them through it. It was very similar to when your friend loses a family member. You don’t coach them through how to grieve.

“You allow them to grieve, and when they finally show signs that their grieving process is slowly coming to an end or they’re slowly getting over the situation, that is when you start introducing some of the coaching back into it.”

On the field, the Red Sox found themselves floating around the .500 mark for much of the season. Things started to round together as they posted a 7-3 over their final 10 games of the regular season to place third in the East Division with a 29-27 mark. Boyenko said the confidence of the team was high going into the post-season.

“I felt throughout the season it was not like that roles weren’t established, but guys were trying to find where they could make an impact in the game,” said Boyenko, who turned 30 right before the playoffs started. “I feel like come playoff time guys weren’t trying to find that anymore.

“They were more so picking each other up. They knew they could do it. Whether they did it in that particular situation or not, it didn’t matter, because they knew the next guy would succeed in that situation.”

Brody Boyenko is one of the original instructors with Going Yard.

In a best-of-three East Division semifinal series, the Red Sox swept the Medicine Hat Mavericks by scores of 6-2 and 13-7. In the best-of-three East Division Championship Series, the Red Sox faced the Saskatoon Berries, who topped the entire WCBL with a 46-9 mark with their win total setting a new league record for most victories in one regular season.

The Red Sox squeaked out an 8-7 victory in Game 1 at Cairns Field, but the Berries evened the series 1-1 with a sound 8-4 victory in Game 2 at Currie Field. In a series deciding Game 3, the Red Sox used a three-run seventh inning to pull away for a 6-2 victory at Cairns Field.

In the deciding win in Saskatoon, Boyenko had a large number of family and friends in attendance. He said it was special to have them all at the park to see the victory that sent the Red Sox to the league final.

“To be honest, it is always nice when your family is watching, especially in your hometown,” said Boyenko. “When you have to live somewhere else for the summer and they come watch you and your team wins, it is a good feeling.

“It was nice that they got to experience that with me. When you live two-and-a-half hours away from home for the summer, it is not like they can just make every other game. For them to see our team win against the top team in the league and beat them out in playoffs, I thought that was pretty special.”

In the best-of-three WCBL Championship Series, the Red Sox fell 3-2 in 11 innings in Game 1 to the Gulls played at Currie Field. Due to the distance of about 809 kilometres between Regina and Sylvan Lake, it was decided the Gulls, who had homefield advantage for the series, would host Games 2 and 3 of the set.

In Game 2, the Red Sox were down 6-4 going into the ninth inning. They scored six runs in the top of the ninth to ultimately prevail 10-7.

In the series-deciding Game 3, the Red Sox trailed 4-3 after six innings. They scored two in the top of the seventh to go ahead 5-4, and their pitching and defence ensured that score was the game’s final outcome. That victory gave the Red Sox their first WCBL title since winning back-to-back league crowns in 2011 and 2012.

Boyenko said the team’s coaches were proud of the Red Sox players but added there were nervous moments in Game 3. He said the Red Sox got a key hit that squeaked through to the outfield from a hitter in the eighth spot in their lineup during the ninth inning rally in Game 2 that won that contest. Boyenko was aware a similar play could go against the Red Sox once they got in front in Game 3.

Brody Boyenko said his Red Sox experience helps his Going Yard work.

“We won Game 2 by a ground ball to the outfield,” said Boyenko.“Going into that Game 3, we had almost no doubt that it was going to be our game.

“When it came around to the eighth and ninth, those were probably some of the longest innings of the entire season. You are so confident in yourself, but just last game, a simple ground ball won it for us and lost it for them. Going into that last inning when we had to get those three outs, that is all I could think of is it is not over until we get that last out.

“Once we finally got it, it literally felt like the weight of the world was off of our shoulders and mission accomplished. It felt very good.”

These days, Boyenko is back in his regular surroundings at the Indoor Training Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds coaching players as an instructor with Going Yard. He guides players in weight training sessions and works with them in the pitching and batting lanes along with drills on the indoor field turf field. He said his experience with the Red Sox helps coming back to Going Yard.

“It is really nice to return,” said Boyenko, who was the pitching coach with the WCBL’s Swift Current 57s in 2023. “I wasn’t too far away from home, but it is nice to come back to my familiar roots and what I do day to day.

“It is nice to bring back some of the things I even learned as a coach from some of the players. In the summertime, you get players from all over the States, so you never know what coach talks about what and what you can bring back. I’ve been able to learn from some of the players some of the nuances that their coaches teach.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to bring it back and teach it to some of our kids as well.”

Boyenko said the championship win with the Red Sox was the first time in his life he was on a team that won a league title. With how the Red Sox rallied around Lubiniecki’s tragic passing, Boyenko said that the 2025 WCBL season with the Red Sox is something he will take with him forever.

“I would definitely say that was the most memorable just because of the whole Jesse (Lubiniecki) situation,” said Boyenko. “My time in the WCBL, I haven’t won as much as I did with Regina, so obviously, winning is a lot of fun.

Brody Boyenko and the Red Sox pose for WCBL title winning picture.

“I would definitely say the fact that, like I mentioned before, Jesse, and then the fact that we rallied around Jesse and were able to win the league. (It was) very memorable.”

For more information on the Going Yard Baseball Academy, feel free to check out their website at www.gyba.ca. All but the second photo in this piece come courtesy Brody Boyenko.