Seasons change – Photo roundup a combo of summer and fall

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Elias Flory (#11) fires a pass downfield in high school football action.

A memorable summer sports season is turning into what should be a memorable fall sports season.

At the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, the baseball and softball diamonds saw their last busy frenzy of action in August and became a little quieter as the month went on. As the calendar was flipping from August to September, business was picking up at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

By about the 10^th of September, various football seasons will be hitting full stride including the Kinsmen Football League and high school football overseen by the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate. High school action kicked into high gear on September 8 with a full state of exhibition games at SMF Field.

The action provides great material for our continuing photo roundups.

Our lead photo shows Holy Cross High School Crusaders quarterback Elias Flory throwing the football against Calgary’s Notre Dame High School Pride in an exhibition football game at SMF Field from today, September 9. The Pride came away with a 16-8 victory. The first slate of regular season high school games are slated for September 15 and 16.

The Indoor Training Centre started to see a little more action on the indoor field turf field and in the batting cages and pitching tunnels.

Over the last 31 days, we got to play host to Softball Canada’s Women’s Canadian Championships and Under-17 Boys’ Canadian Championships. The Saskatoon Hilltops opened play in their CJFL regular season schedule, and the Senior Western Canada Baseball Championship tournament took place at Cairns Field.

The activity that happens on our grounds continues to provide great material for our continuing photo roundups.

These photos 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 12 shots we hope you enjoy.

All-star chucker

The Saskatoon Shock pitcher Alana Westerhof gets set to unload a throw during at game at Joe Gallagher Field during Softball Canada’s Women’s Canadian Championships on August 13. Westerhof was named an all-star pitcher at this event.

Express spirits high in downpour

Ontario’s Napanee Express take shelter underneath the stands at Bob Van Impe Stadium as a short and heavy downpour delayed action at Softball Canada’s Under-17 Boys’ Canadian Championships along with the Women’s Canadian Championships on August 13. After doing some rescheduling, those events wrapped up the next day.

All present for medal ceremony

This photo shows the start of the medal ceremony for Softball Canada’s Women’s Canadian Champions on August 14 at Joe Gallagher Field. Alberta’s Calahoo Erins claimed the gold medal, Saskatchewan’s Carnduff Southeast Steelers took silver and the host Saskatoon G-Force captured the bronze medal.

Championship smiles from the Erins

Alberta’s Calahoo Erins were all smiles as they posed for the customary championship team photo after winning Softball Canada’s Women’s Canadian Championship tournament on August 14 at Joe Gallagher Field. The Erins have won gold at the last three consecutive women’s Canadian Nationals.

Crushing it

A Regina Trappers hitter slams a ball into the outfield during a game at the Senior Western Canada Baseball Championship tournament on August 20 at Cairns Field. The Trappers ultimately won the tourney one day later.

Family fun on coin toss

A youngster does the honours of flipping the coin for the coin flip before a CJFL regular season game between the Saskatoon Hilltops and the visiting Edmonton Huskies on August 21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. That contest was the Kinsmen Family Day/Young Hilltops Day game for the Hilltops.

Hilltops’ Sawi celebrates spectacular TD run

Running back Charles Sawi has a knack for scoring sensational touchdowns at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Last year, he scored lots of those running the ball as a Grade 12 senior for the Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football team. Here on August 21, Sawi celebrates scoring a touchdown off a spectacular 31-yard jaunt on a reverse run with his teammates from the Saskatoon Hilltops. Sawi scored two majors that day for the storied CJFL club in a 38-10 regular season win over the Edmonton Huskies.

Championship trophy belongs to Blades

The Blades raise the championship trophy after winning the Saskatoon Adult Flag Football League’s Men’s B final on August 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Ben Njaa threw four touchdown passes for the Blades in the win.

Power on display

A hitter smashes a ball in the batting cages at the Indoor Training Centre as part of a 222’s tryout camp on August 28. The 222’s softball program practises at the Indoor Training Centre throughout the winter as the facility is the program’s home base.

Tune-up throw

A quarterback from the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears Football team fires a pass downfield during an exhibition game on September 2 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Bears were taking on Regina’s Michael A. Riffel High School Royals to prepare for the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate regular season, which opens with games on September 15 and 16.

Zeroed in on the end zone

Quarterback Sullivan Smith-Windsor from Prince Albert’s Carlton Comprehensive High School Crusaders charges through a lane to get to the end zone in a high school exhibition football game against the Marion M. Graham Collegiate Falcons. Smith-Windsor did indeed reach the end zone in a 34-15 Crusaders triumph on September 8 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Forced fumble Crusaders style

A defender from the Holy Cross High School Crusaders forces the quarterback of Calgary’s Notre Dame High School Pride to fumble the football during a high school exhibition game on September 9 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Pride ultimately pulled out a 16-8 victory in the interprovincial encounter.

Shock’s Jaman in softball for life

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Haley Jaman sets for an at bat for the Shock.

Haley Jaman expects to be a softball lifer because of the people she’s met in the game.

The 20-year-old outfielder with the Saskatoon Shock and University of Saskatchewan women’s club team has been around the game for as long as she can remember beginning with watching her older sister, Jocelyn Jaman, play the sport. From that start, Haley Jaman began playing tee-ball at around age five and proceeded to grow up playing through the ranks of Saskatoon’s minor softball system.

“Half the girls that I am still friends with today I started playing ball with since we started playing zone ball,” said Jaman, whose Shock will play in Softball Canada’s women’s nationals that run August 10 to 14 at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. “We’ve grown up together, and we still keep in touch.

“In the winter, you kind of drift apart, but once summer starts, you are back together with your friends again. I think that was the biggest thing. I love the game.

“I love the competitiveness. Obviously, I love it enough I want to share it with other people. Definitely, the people and the connections I’ve made were like the best part about it.”

The connections have gone beyond those she’s made with her teammates over the years. Jaman has gotten a taste of the coaching side of the game for about the past five years. While attending high school at Centennial Collegiate, Jaman took part in the softball academy at Tommy Douglas Collegiate.

Through the softball academy at Tommy Douglas, Jaman completed a coaching component in Grade 10 that had her work with kids at various schools around the city, and she realize she liked that aspect of the game. Jaman got a little more involved with coaching when longtime elite level coach and player Jon Equina asked her to come out and help with various camps.

Haley Jaman, right, explains a drill to some players.

“I started evaluating and doing stuff for Team Sask for winter programs and had coaches approach me asking if I would come run like little camps with their own team,” said Jaman, who has coached with JQFP Softball and the Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy. “This winter I took a Hustlers team, and I kind of helped out a little bit – a B team.

“I feel like it is very rewarding to see more of a progression. It has been something I knew I wanted to do since I was a kid.”

So far during her coaching, Jaman has noticed there are times young female players are more receptive to pick up a teaching point, if it comes from a female coach. As a player, she said she has times where she’s picked up pointers and messages from a female coach, which sometimes weren’t picked up when a male coach delivered those same pointers and messages.

“I think that is kind of the cool thing that the girls have someone closer to their age and a girl to relate to,” said Jaman. “That is exactly why I do it.

“Eventually, I want my own team, and I want to coach a team all summer. For now, I like just floating and helping when I can.”

Equina, who is the Shock’s head coach, has enjoyed coaching and coaching with Jaman over the years.

“Coaching Haley (Jaman) is an absolute treat,” said Equina. “She works hard every single time she comes out to the park.

“Whatever you tell her, she is definitely open minded to try it whether she has never tried it before. She is the kind of player and coach that she is willing to try different things in order to see different results. She is definitely ready to go outside the box in a lot of things player and coach.”

Haley Jaman patrols the outfield for the Shock.

Equina said he has been keeping his eye out for players that are coming up through Saskatoon’s minor softball system who he thinks might make good coaches. He thought Jaman would be great in that role as she brings a great positive energy when she interacts with others.

“My biggest thing as a coach is I am trying to get the next generation of coaches now in line,” said Equina. “I’ve been doing this for over 22 years and the same with the other guys that are with me and older.

“Now, it is the next generation, and the females especially that we need to get involved coaching. With her in mind, it was just perfect, because she loves helping out. She loves volunteering.

“Now being able to properly coach or how to coach was the big thing, and she has learned so well. She is excited to do it every time. Passion is something you can’t really teach.”

While she has been piling up the experiences on the coaching front, Jaman is still pumped for the opportunities she gets to play. After graduating from Centennial Collegiate in 2019, Jaman exhausted her eligibility for under-19 level ball as teams played an exhibition schedule locally in 2020 due to measures that were in place to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world.

Jaman had been playing out of the Hustlers zone and was part of group of players that didn’t want to be split up among the adult teams that existed in the city. Jaman and her Hustlers teammates joined up with a group of similar aged players from the Lazers zone to form the Shock, who had a handful of roster spots filled by players from other programs.

Equina agreed to be the Shock’s head coach and the team hit the diamonds from there.

Haley Jaman demonstrates a diving catch drill as a coach.

“The girls we played with we didn’t want to go play on random teams,” said Jaman. “We made our own team with ‘Queens’ (Equina).

“He is our coach, and that is how we got to stay playing together. One of the coaches actually came up to me and told me that the U of S has a team. Last year, I played with the U of S, and it was like a totally different experience.

“They were so cool. It was like just a little bite of what you get to do in college, but like playing just at home.”

The Shock won Softball Saskatchewan’s under-23 A provincial title sweeping a best-of-three series 2-0 over the Saskatoon Sabres. The Shock closed out the set with a 5-0 victory in Game 2 on July 9 at Bob Van Impe Stadium.

At nationals, the Shock will play in the women’s draw as there weren’t enough teams committed across the country to play an under-23 national championship tournament.

Jaman said she has never played in a Softball Canada nationals at home, so she is pumped for that opportunity this year. Besides having the support of family and friends in the stands, Jaman said a number of the girls she coaches want to come watch her play.

“I think that is going to be a really big difference this year that is going to work to our advantage having people to watch us,” said Jaman. “All my little girls (I coach) they already ask, ‘Send us your schedule.’

“All their parents want to know when we are playing, because they want to come support us. It works both ways. It is good for us, but then it is good for them to see this different level of ball.”

Haley Jaman plans to be involved in softball for a long time.

After this season is complete, Jaman wants to keep playing for softball as long as she can at any type of level. When she feels like she can no longer play, Jaman plans to focus even more time and attention on coaching.

“Once I kind of feel like my time playing is done like I said, I want my own team,” said Jaman. “I want to be able to grow with a group of girls and see them from where they started and kind of take them the way I’ve had a coach.

“I’d like to do that. In that way, I definitely just want to keep helping out. My kids will play.

“They don’t have a choice. They’ll play ball, so they’ll get a coach from their mom.”

Sweet happenings in photos championship season style

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Cloverdale Fury make history with a national title win.

’Tis the championship season on the diamonds.

During the months of July and August, post-season action hit full gear on our baseball and softball diamonds. Various provincial champions and often national championships were presented on our grounds during that span of time.

On Sunday, the gold medal at Softball Canada’s Under-15 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament was presented to the Cloverdale Fury from British Columbia at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Our lead photo shows part of the celebration from the Fury’s win.

That event marked the 25^th time a Canadian championship tournament has been held at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. It was also the first time Softball Canada contested an Under-15 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship.

Over the last 31 days, we got to see various local area teams capture provincial titles. The Saskatoon Cubs capped a first place regular season finish by winning the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s under-18 AAA championship crown at Cairns Field.

The Saskatoon G-Force took Softball Saskatchewan’s women’s A provincial championship with a dramatic finish at Joe Gallagher Field. They along with the Saskatoon Shock under-23 women’s team will play in Softball Canada’s women’s nationals that start Wednesday on our grounds along with Softball Canada’s under-17 boys’ nationals.

The Track and Field Track continued to be busy hosting various meets, and we got to host the softball and track and field portions of the Tony Cote First Nations Summer Games.

The activity that happens on our grounds continues to provide great material for our continuing photo roundups.

These photos capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, most of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke. We also have a check in from the Shock.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 12 shots we hope you enjoy.

Shock sweep their way to Under-23 A Saskatchewan title

The Saskatoon Shock pose for the traditional team photo after winning Softball Saskatchewan’s Under-23 A Women’s Provincial Championship at Bob Van Impe Stadium on July 9. The Shock blanked the Saskatoon Sabres 5-0 in a night contest to take Game 2 of a best-of-three championship series sweeping the set 2-0. We pass on a big thanks to Shock head coach Jon Equina for submitting this photo.

Up and over

An athlete leaps a hurdle during action at the Bob Adams Saskatchewan Track and Field Championships on July 16, 2022 at the Track and Field Track. The three-day event hosted athletes in a wide range of age groups.

Driving one into the gap

Saskatoon Cubs outfielder Mason McCleary drives a shot into a gap in the outfield during action in the under-18 AAA championship game of the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League on July 24 at Cairns Field. McCleary had three hits in that contest as the Cubs downed the Muenster-based East Central Red Sox 12-6.

Cubs go all the way in SPBL

The Saskatoon Cubs have had a special season under the spring and summer sun in 2022. They finished first in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s under-18 AAA regular season standings with a 24-6 record. They claimed the SPBL’s under-18 AAA provincial title on July 24 at Cairns Field and posed for this customary team picture after that victory. The Cubs will represent Saskatchewan at Baseball Canada’s Under-18 Nationals that run August 18 to 21 in Grande Prairie, Alta.

Gem in the clutch

Saskatoon G-Force pitcher Jordan Kulbida always has a great day on the softball diamond even when the pressure is at its highest. On July 24 at Joe Gallagher Field, Kulbida threw a gem as her G-Force posted a 1-0 victory over the Carnduff Southeast Steelers to claim Softball Saskatchewan Women’s A Provincial Championship. The G-Force took the game with a walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh.

Walk-off run gives G-Force provincial title

Adrian Laskowski scored the winning run in this photo to allow the Saskatoon G-Force to win Softball Saskatchewan’s Women’s A Provincial Championship. The G-Force claimed the provincial final 1-0 with Laskowski’s walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh to down the Carnduff Southeast Steelers on July 24 at Joe Gallagher Field.

G-Force all smiles with provincial banner

The Saskatoon G-Force were all smiles as they took part in the traditional team picture after winning the title game of Softball Saskatchewan’s Women’s A Provincial Championship tournament on July 24 at Joe Gallagher field.

Focused effort

An athlete gets set to make the perfect throw in the shot put on July 26 at the Track and Field Track as part of the Tony Cote First Nations Summer Games. The track and field and softball portions of those games were held on our grounds.

Supporters pack stands for Tony Cote Games

Spectators came out in big numbers when we hosted the softball and track and field portions of the Tony Cote First Nations Summer Games in late July. In this photo, fans pack the stands checking out action at the Track and Field Track on July 27.

The Hustlers are here

The Saskatoon Hustlers make their entrance at Bob Van Impe Stadium for the opening ceremonies at Softball Canada’s Under-15 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 3. The Hustlers posted a 3-5 record playing in a tough field of 21 teams.

Home run lap

Tegan Harnett gives a huge smile rounding third base after hitting a home run for British Columbia’s Cloverdale Fury during a night playoff game at Bob Van Impe Stadium on August 6 during Softball Canada’s Under-15 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament. The Fury would win that contest to advance to the tournament’s gold medal game the next day.

Fury accomplish Softball Canada first

The Cloverdale Fury pose for the customary team photo after winning the gold medal game at Softball Canada’s Under-15 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. In an all British Columbia clash, the Fury downed Surrey Storm 11-4 in a game that ended after five innings due to the mercy rule. The Fury finished the tournament with a 9-0 record. The Fury win marked the first time Softball Canada awarded a national title at the under-15 girls’ level.

Frey on fire for Cubs

Right-handed hurler one of SPBL’s best

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Parker Frey unloads a pitch for the Cubs.

Parker Frey is soaking in playing his final season in the spring and summer sun with the Saskatoon Cubs.

For the past two campaigns, the right-handed hurler has been one of the top pitchers at the under-18 AAA level in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League. This season, he has been a key cog in helping the Cubs chase first place on the provincial circuit.

“It has been fun,” said Frey. “We’re a fun group of guys.

“We can joke around when needed, but we get down to business when we also need to.”

Currently, the Cubs are holding top spot in the regular season standings with a 19-4 mark with seven games to go. The Cubs will host the SPBL’s under-18 AAA Provincial Championship tournament July 22 to 24 at Cairns Field and Leakos Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Over six appearances on the mound this season, Frey has posted a 4-0 record, a 2.25 ERA, 37 strikeouts and eight walks in 28 innings. He is putting together a solid follow-up campaign from his 2021 season, where in nine appearances, he posted a 7-1 record, a 2.25 ERA, 25 strikeouts and 11 walks in 37 and one-third innings.

When he is on the mound, Frey throws a strong slider and change-up, while locating his fastball well. He said his finesse pitches have helped him out well the past two campaigns.

“I’d definitely say my off-speed (pitches are working),” said Frey, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 165 pounds. “I’m not a guy who can blow the fastball by everyone.

“My off-speed pitches are definitely a big part of my pitching.”

On top of having a good season on the mound, Frey is having a solid campaign hitting, as he is 16-of-45 at the dish for a .356 average with 10 RBI. Frey has made a sizable improvement in that department from 2021, when he was 11-of-42 at the plate for a .262 average with six RBI.

Parker Frey is batting .356 at the plate this season.

At the plate, Frey keeps his approach simple.

“I’m more just trying to put the ball in play and good things happen,” said Frey. “It is all I am trying to do at the plate right now.”

Frey started played organized baseball at about age five or six following his older brother, Jordan, into the sport. Since Jordan was a pitcher, Parker became a pitcher too.

Over the years, Parker developed his own love for pitching and the game of baseball. His favourite hurlers to watch on television in the MLB included New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom and late Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay.

“I kind of think I like it a lot better than fielding and everything else,” said Parker. “I like pitching more, so that is why I went after that.”

For most of his baseball career, Parker has been coached by his father, Scott. Scott is the head coach of the Cubs and Jordan is serving as an assistant coach with the team too.

Since joining the Cubs in 2020, Scott said Parker has made some great overall strides.

“We were really just looking at using him as a pitcher,” said Scott. “He put on some inches and grew into a fairly tall kid that we could use in a few different situations.

“This year his bat has come alive, and we’ve been able to use him more in the field and also on the mound.”

On the mound, Scott said Parker has benefited from working with Cory Hall at Inside Pitch Saskatoon and consistently hits the strike zone with all his throws.

“He (Parker) works to get ahead,” said Scott. “He doesn’t have anything overpowering, so he has worked on developing a couple of different pitches that he can locate well and get hitters out.

Parker Frey rounds the bases for the Cubs.

“He is extremely efficient. We can count on him for five or six or seven innings most times. He has just kept doing that year after year after year.

“Parker is location first. You get the pitch in on guys’ hands or get it away and try to work with pitching to contact and just letting your defence play.”

When it comes to Parker’s improvement at the plate, Scott said it helped that his son had a growth spurt in the off-season.

“He grew and that helps,” said Scott. “He got stronger.

“I think just his approach to hitting is better as he gets into good counts, and he has a pretty good eye. He is able to get the pitch he wants and can put a good swing on it.”

Parker has enjoyed being coached by his father over the years and also by his older brother in recent years. The ace pitcher added the challenging player and coach talks come when he is not playing well, so he is kept accountable by his father and older brother.

“At times it is tough, because they are harder on me,” said Parker. “It is nice, and I like it.”

Scott admits he has challenging talks with Parker over the years that comes from the relationship between player and coach. Overall, the father appreciates the special opportunity he has had to coach his son.

“We’ve been together a long time and I have been coaching him a lot,” said Scott. “It is always a challenge being dad and being coach.

“There are some tough talks at home and some tough talks in the dugout, but it has been a really enjoyable experience and a lot of fun.”

Following this season, Parker, who just graduated from St. Joseph High School in June, will continue his baseball career playing for the Taft College Cougars baseball team in Taft, California. Before he thinks about the fall, Parker is focused on accomplishing big goals with the Cubs that include making it to Baseball Canada’s Under-18 National Championship tournament, which will be held August 18 to 21 in Fort McMurray, Alta.

Park Frey will join the Taft College Cougars in the fall.

“I think winning a provincial title would be cool,” said Parker, who will turn 18-years-old on August 13. “Going to nationals has to be the main goal for us.”

He is looking forward to his future with the Cougars but admits he will miss the Cubs.

“I’m super excited,” said Parker. “I can’t wait to get down there, but at the same time, it will be tough trying to leave this team.”

For more information about the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League including league schedules, box scores and statistics, feel free to check out the league website at www.spbl.ca.

A cool mix of sweet happenings in photos

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Jorde Chartrand sets to unload a pitch for Canada.

A lot of cool moments happen on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

As spring transitioned to summer, we got to see a few cool moments take place at our facilities. One of those moments saw 19-year-old right-handed pitcher Jorde Chartrand throw for Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team at Bob Van Impe Stadium during the second game of a doubleheader sweep of Czechia on July 1.

Chartrand pitched two scoreless innings in Canada’s second contest that day. From Weyburn, Sask., Chartrand trained for a number of years on our grounds and played for teams in Saskatoon before joining the University of Central Arkansas Bears women’s softball NCAA Division I program last fall. She will join the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Spartans women’s softball NCAA Division I program this fall.

Our lead photo shows Chartrand pitching in familiar surroundings at Bob Van Impe Stadium for Canada.

We also got to see the Saskatoon Valkyries win their seventh WWCFL title on June 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field with a 36-6 victory over the Winnipeg-based Manitoba Fearless. While the Valkyries started using SMF Field as their home park before the start of the 2015 season, their WWCFL title win this year marked the first time they won a league championship at SMF Field.

Those two moments were the highlights of the activity that has occurred on our baseball and softball diamonds, SMF Field, Track and Field Track and the Indoor Training Centre over the past 30 days.

The activity that happens on our grounds continues to provide great material for our continuing photo roundups.

These photos capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, most of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke. The Saskatoon Cubs Under-18 AAA Baseball Team checked in with a couple of sentimental photos too.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 12 shots we hope you enjoy.

Rider on the Storm

Storm Zablocki, from Prince Albert Athletics, hits top gear in the 200-metre final of Saskatchewan’s Canada Summer Games Trails on June 12 at the Track and Field Track. Zablocki won the race in a time of 21.78 seconds.

Escape to daylight

A receiver from the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders breaks down the sideline after a catch during action in the Rush Female Flag Football League play on June 14 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon Minor Football runs Rush female flag programs from Grade 1 through to Grade 12.

Romping to MVP honours

Running back Sarah Wright rumbles to the house on a six-yard touchdown run for the Saskatoon Valkyries in the WWCFL title game held on June 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Valkyries won the contest, and Wright was named game MVP. She carried the ball 20 times for 157 yards to go with her major score on the ground, and she caught one pass for 14 yards in the victory.

Fun farewell

The Saskatoon Valkyries had some fun with star defensive tackle Jaime Lammerding following their win in the WWCFL Championship game held on June 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Following the win, the Valkyries players piled on top of Lammerding, who is giving a thumb up, during a series of on field team pictures. The WWCFL title game win was the last for Lammerding as a player, who has suited up for the Valkyries since their inaugural season in 2011. She is retired from the game as a player.

Sweet swing

Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team got good use out of the Indoor Training Centre during a practice on June 28. One of the players displays a sweet swing in the batting cages in this photo.

Beauty turnout at BVI

The main stands at Bob Van Impe Stadium were packed to see Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team sweep a doubleheader against Czechia on July 1. Fans came out in droves to see Canada sweep the two-game set.

For the kids

Right-handed pitcher Jorde Chartrand, who was playing for Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team, makes a young fan’s day signing autographs and posing for a picture on July 1 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The players from Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team met their fans and signed autographs following their doubleheader sweep of Czechia.

Let it fly

Saskatoon Cubs pitcher Brady Wouters makes a special delivery pitch during a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League under-18 AAA game on July 2 at Cairns Field. The Cubs lead the SPBL regular season standings with a 19-4 record.

Cubs honour veteran umpire Dodds

The Saskatoon Cubs under-18 AAA baseball team checked with these two photos. Before hosting the Parkland Expos in a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League doubleheader on July 2 at Cairns Field, the Cubs honoured long time veteran umpire Gary Dodds. In the first photos, Cubs catcher Casey Prychak presented Dodds with the team signed baseball. Following the first game of the doubleheader, the Cubs posed for a team picture with Dodds. Dodds was working his final two games of the season that day before going in for knee surgery. He has developed a reputation for being one of the most well liked and respected umpires in the province, while having one of the heaviest workloads year in and year out in Saskatoon. Dodds has umpired games in Saskatoon for over 15 years, and the Cubs wanted to thank him for his service to the game and wish him the best in his recovery. Dodds expects to return to action umpiring games next season.

Hot shot up the middle

A Saskatoon Selects hitter drives a hot hit though the middle of the infield during a league game on July 5 at Glenn Reeve Field #3. The Complex has hosted league softball games in all sorts of age levels once again this season.

A safe slide just in time

A Southeast Sun Devils base runner beats a Tisdale Riverdogs team member’s throw to second base at Joe Gallagher Field on July 8 during action in Softball Saskatchewan’s Girls’ under-15 BW Provincial Championship tournament. Provincial Championship tournament action in under-15 BW and under-15 B girls’ play and under-19 A and under-23 A women’s play continues on our diamonds July 9 and wraps up July 10.

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.”