U of S Softball team cements place in sports scene

Club give locals place to play at home at a high level

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Thora Reynolds (#16) drives a ball into the outfield.

The University of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Program aims to live out the cliché, “Be it ever so humble there is no place like home.”

While the club team has a relatively short history first hitting the field in 2008, it gives players in Saskatoon and the provincial softball community an avenue to combine academics and play at a high level in the post-secondary scene. The club also allows those players to stay home or close to home.

The U of S team has won the Western Collegiate Softball Association title on five occasions including 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016. Along with the WCSA championships, U of S has won two Canadian Collegiate Softball Association titles including the team’s inaugural campaign in 2008 and 2016.

Growing up playing softball in Saskatoon or anywhere in Saskatchewan, players dream of playing the sport at the NCAA Division I level in the United States. For a lot of players as they get older, a desire develops to play at home or closer to home, and that is where the U of S Softball program fills an important role.

For utility infielder Thora Reynolds who grew up playing minor softball in Saskatoon, the pull to go play in the United States was there, but it ultimately made more sense for her situation to stay home.

“I think staying home was a big factor because I went through the 222’s (Fastpitch) program, and lots of girls that I knew they went to the States to play college,” said Reynolds, who is in her second season with the U of S Softball club. “That was definitely an option I was considering, but I think education was a big thing for me and also just being able to stay home not having to go to the States.

“The whole atmosphere of the team was great and you can have kind of shorter season but still have that competitive energy about the team. It brings the sport to life. I love it.”

Reynolds has played softball for 10 years and grew up playing in the Hustlers Zone of the Saskatoon Minor Softball League and suited up for the Saskatoon Selects under-19 AA team this past summer. She graduated in June of 2022 with the highest average of all Grade 12 students at Centennial Collegiate, which resulted in the Saskatoon Public School Division giving her a Proficiency Award.

At U of S, Reynolds, who is 19-years-old, studies in the biomedical sciences program. Reynolds said staying at home was a better fit for her educational goals. She added the level of play of the U of S Softball team and the league it plays out of is high, and it is important for local players to have that option to continue playing the sport.

Thora Reynolds is a high achiever academically.

“It is great to have the opportunity to play here,” said Reynolds. “I don’t think it is recognized enough.

“We don’t get as much recognition as we should I think. Just having the opportunity to play ball especially in Saskatchewan it is super awesome. It is definitely worth it.”

While Reynolds is a Saskatoon product who joined the U of S Softball team, first year outfielder Rachel Siwak came to the club via Melfort, Sask. She began playing softball with the Prince Albert Aces under-12 program before joining her hometown Melfort Spirit under-14 team.

This past summer, Siwak was one of Reynolds teammates on the Selects under-19 AA team. Siwak elected to join the U of S Softball club due to the fact Stacey Thomson, who has a very decorated softball resume, was the team’s head coach.

“Basically, I played with the 222’s growing up, and Stacey is the outfield coach of the 222’s,” said Siwak. “I became really fond of her, and I loved playing for her.

“When the opportunity presented itself for me to come to school at the University of Saskatchewan, I thought there would be no better team for me to play on than this team. I reached out to Stacey and here I am.”

A graduate of Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate, Siwak, who is 18-years-old, is studying business at the U of S and hopes to get into the College of Law. Along with the fact her educational plans line up with what U of S offers academically, Siwak wanted to play at a place where it was close enough for her family to come to games.

When the U of S hosted a number of regular season games at Bob Van Impe Stadium, Joe Gallagher Field and Glenn Reeve Field #3 from August 25 to 27, Siwak had a sizable group of family members in the stands that came out to support her. She also had a great first impression of the environment on the team.

“From the first practices, all the girls are like really inclusive,” said Siwak. “With me being (one of) the youngest, I thought it would be more challenging, but they are really great at just like bringing everybody together.

“The older girls they are really supportive of the younger girls. Even after the first game, I just feel like they made me feel apart of the team and not just like a new rookie.”

Rachel Siwak wants to get into the College of Law in the future.

Thomson has a close identification to what her players have gone through when it comes to deciding where their softball careers go after high school. Before getting into coaching, Thomson grew up playing softball in Saskatoon and played intermittently with Canada’s National Women’s Softball Team from 1994 to 1999.

With U of S having strong academic programs, Thomson said it was important to have the U of S Softball program in Saskatoon to give players from Saskatoon and across Saskatchewan an extra reason to stay home or close to home to pursue academics and athletics. While she focuses on attracting players from in province, Thomson is open to adding players from out of province, if the situation lines up for it.

She said the U of S Softball team has one out of province player in Amanda Paquette, who joined the club as a walk-on. Paquette was originally going to go to the United States to play hockey but elected to pursue her educational goals at the U of S. Once at U of S, she decided to join the U of S Softball team.

“I think that it allows girls that maybe would have gone down south to stay here for a really great university,” said Thomson. “There are so many colleges and opportunities at the U of S.

“It is top rate education rather than going down south and not having the academic side of it as much. I used to be the academic advisor in kinesiology and in psychology, so I got perspective from seeing student athletes trying to get transfer credit. Often times, they’ll go down to school (in the United States) and spend so much money and then come back here, and they won’t have a lot of transfer credit to show for it.”

Thomson said she has heard from parents and other coaches that the U of S Softball team is comparable to programs in the United States. She said she has a pretty strong coaching staff from Saskatoon and area that becomes another factor in athletes deciding to play at U of S.

One of those assistant coaches is Karmen Twordik, who played for the Carnduff Southeast Steelers to took part in Softball Canada’s U23 Women’s and Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament in L’Ile-Perrot, Quebec, this past August 16 to 20. Twordik was a named a tournament all-star in the outfield and helped the Steelers down Ontario’s Oakville Angels under-23 team 1-0 in the event’s gold medal game.

The U of S Softball team celebrates a home run.

While U of S Softball team might not play a season schedule that is as long as post-secondary programs in the United States do, Thomson her program is still a great option to accomplish academic and athletic goals while still getting to represent a team from Saskatchewan.

“I think that it is a little bit more laid back, but it is still competitive,” said Thomson. “There is some pride in playing for Saskatoon and for your home province.”

Summer season ends hot, fall starts with roar in photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Boston Davidsen charges upfield for the Hilltops.

When the summer season wraps up and the fall season begins at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, it feels like a situation where all good things must come to an end for new good things to begin.

August saw the summer baseball and softball seasons conclude. Softball finished with a bang as Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament ran on our grounds from August 9 to 13 and FSIN Treaty Fast Pitch Championships followed on August 18 to 20. Both events created numerous good memories.

August also saw the Saskatoon Hilltops spring back into action along with the University of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Program. That signaled the start of the fall season, which both programs will play well into.

The lead photo of our photo roundup comes from the Hilltops 50-18 CJFL regular season victory over the Calgary Colts on August 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In the photo, Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen charges downfield adding rushing yards to a monster performance. In the win, he carried the ball 15 times for 190 yards and one touchdown.

Playing his final season of CJFL eligibility for the Hilltops, Davidsen leads the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference with 458 yards coming on 49 carries with three of those jaunts going for touchdowns. Davidsen is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards rushing for the regular season.

If he is able to pull off that accomplishment, it would mark the 10^th time in Hilltops team history dating back to the club’s modern version start in 1947 that an individual has hit the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the regular season. Davidsen put up the ninth 1,000-yard rushing season in Hilltops history in 2022 carrying the ball 149 times for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns.

Along with the exploits of the Hilltops and U of S Softball team, high school football sprung back into action first with pre-season contests and the start of regular season play as August turned into September.

These photos 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.

Lasers drive

A Saskatoon Lasers hitter drives a ball into the outfield at Bob Van Impe Stadium on August 11 during Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament. The Lasers finished the tournament with a 2-4 record.

Phantoms eye on the ball

A Saskatoon Phantoms catcher keeps her eye on the ball after making and frame up a catch behind the plate at Glenn Reeve Field #3 on August 11 during Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament. The Phantoms finished the tournament with a 3-5 record.

Smiles all around

This friendly trio was out enjoying the championship game of Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament that was held on August 14. They asked for a picture, and we were happy to deliver on the request.

Championship spoils

The players from the Fraser Valley Fusion pose with the championship trophy after winning the gold medal game of Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament. The Fusion posted an 8-0 record at the event. They took an exciting championship game 4-3 over the D1 Nationals from Ontario on August 13 at Bob Van Impe Stadium.

Best of the best

Morgan Reimer unloads a pitch during the title game of Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship Tournament on August 13 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The pitcher/shortstop was named the winner of the event’s Top Player Award. In all action at the event, Reimer posted a 5-0 record pitching 39 innings recording 63 strike outs and a .718 earned-run average.

Story tellers of baseball days of old

A group of seven players came out to the SaskTel Learning Centre Classroom on August 18 as part of a prairie players baseball reunion for those who played semi-professional in Saskatchewan in the 1950s and 1960s. These players shared fantastic stories that showed how rich the province’s baseball history is.

All hugs after tribute

The opening ceremonies for the FSIN Treaty Fast Pitch Championships at Bob Van Impe Stadium on August 18 were emotional and moving. Near the end of the ceremonies, families walked around the infield of the diamond with pictures of loved ones who passed away as a tribute to their memories. Those walks were followed by lots of hugs when the opening ceremonies concluded.

Celebrate good times, come on

The celebration was on for the Pasqua A’s after they won the championship game of the FSIN Treaty Fast Pitch Championships on August 20 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The A’s got past the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation 6-5 in a well-played game.

Safe!

A University of Victoria Vikes base runner slides in safe at home under the tag attempt of a University of Regina Cougars catcher on August 26 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Vikes and Cougars were part of a group of seven teams playing Western Collegiate Softball Association league games on our diamonds from August 25 to 27.

Sack pack

A trio of Saskatoon Hilltops players combine to sack a Calgary Colts quarterback during a CJFL regular season clash played on August 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops romped to a 50-18 victory to improve to 3-0 on the campaign.

Off to the races

An offensive player from the Rosetown High School Royals jets past a defender from the Hague High School Panthers during a series of scrimmages in six-man play on August 31 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The scrimmages held this night also featured the Hafford School Vikings.

TD denying interception

A defender from Saskatoon’s Bethlehem High School Stars makes a goal-line interception in an exhibition contest against Regina’s Winston Knoll Collegiate Wolverines on September 1 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Wolverines proved to be too tough on this day as they rolled to a 48-0 victory.

Embracing the Rain

A Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks running back charges upfield in heavy rain during a SSSAD contest against the E.D. Feehan Catholic High School Trojans on September 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Redhawks were able to fly in the elements posting a 37-0 victory.

Preserving an OT win

On September 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Holy Cross High School Crusaders and Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints played in the first SSSAD regular season contest that went to overtime. On the final play of OT, the Crusaders ran a missed field goal out of their end zone to preserve a 19-18 triumph.

Gifted grab

Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears receiver Mason Grabowski makes a twisting catch on a deep pass during a SSSAD contest on September 8 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Bears got a number of big plays like Grabowski’s catch downing the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders 46-7.

Small town gal living the dream

Sutherland still realizing NCAA title win did happen

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Savannah Sutherland does a drill at the Track and Field Track.

Savannah Sutherland is reminded often she is famous in a good-natured way during her Saskatchewan summer homecoming.

On June 10 at the 2023 National Collegiate Athletics Association Track and Field Championships held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas, Sutherland won the championship race in the 400-metre women’s hurdles in a time of 54.45 seconds with the University of Michigan Wolverines. Along with claiming the NCAA title, Sutherland’s time was a personal best, set a school record, a Canadian U23 record and the 2023 world championship standard.

She just missed clipping Sage Watson’s overall Canadian record in the 400-metre women’s hurdles of 54.32 seconds set in October of 2019.

With having won an NCAA title with one of the most storied overall athletic programs in the Wolverines, Sutherland’s win made major rounds in mainstream media and social media.

In early July, she returned home and first spent quality family time in her hometown of Borden, which is located about 53 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. She proceeded to return to the Track and Field Track on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds to train with the elite national level crew that includes Michelle Harrison, Nicole Ostertag and Madisson Lawrence.

The training mates would send good-natured jabs Sutherland’s way telling her how well-known she was and that news of her heroics takes over their social media feeds. Sutherland, who turned 20-years-old on August 7, chuckled at the comments about her newfound fame. Due to the fact she was only in her second season with the Wolverines when she won her NCAA crown, Sutherland admits she still thinks that day was some sort of dream.

“It still feels surreal,” said Sutherland. “It almost feels like it didn’t happen to me.

“It is like someone that I watched on TV. It hasn’t sunk in that, ‘Hey, that was me on the track.’ It still feels pretty unreal.”

Savannah Sutherland jogs around the Track and Field Track.

Sutherland, who was 19-years-old at the time, entered the NCAA championship race as an underdog with Britton Wilson from the University of Arkansas and Masai Russell from the University of Kentucky pegged as the favourites. Russell finished second with a time of 54.66 seconds, while Wilson came in seventh at 55.92 seconds.

“I just wanted to get out hard,” said Sutherland about the NCAA title race. “I knew that there was a pretty big head wind on the back stretch, so I was just focused on that first 200-metres on getting out.

“It was around the 250-mark where I started wondering like, ‘Hey, where is everybody else.’ The two people that were favoured were on my inside, so I couldn’t see them for the whole race. Coming around that last curve, it kind of sunk in that, ‘Hey, I could win this thing.’

“Then, it was just trying to come home as strong as I could. It was a little scary, because I knew that they were coming after me. I was just hoping that I could hold them off for that last 150-metres.”

Sutherland, who stands 5-foot-8, was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Big Ten Conference. Her lengthy list of accomplishments for the 2022-23 season included a Big Ten championship in the 400-metre hurdles, a Big Ten championship in the 4 X 400-metre relay for the indoor season, a first team all-American nod in the 400-metre hurdles and a first team all-American selection in the 400-metre race for the indoor season.

In the 400-metre race, Sutherland set a personal best time for outdoors at 51.41 seconds on February 25 and a personal best in indoors at 51.60 second in March 11. The indoor personal best came at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Sutherland said she couldn’t believe how many accomplishments she had until they were listed to her.

“It feels amazing, especially indoor, because it was my off event,” said Sutherland. “To still be able to get top eight at NCAAs indoor for the flat 400-metre was really great.

Savannah Sutherland, left, share a laugh with Nicole Ostertag.

“Those all-American honours and big 10 championships, it just kind of starts to stack up. You don’t really realize when you are running like how many school records have gone down and things like that. Being able to look back at that, it was just pretty spectacular to see all the work just in one space like that.”

Sutherland has enjoyed campus life at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. She said it was different going into a lecture hall for a class and there were more people in the lecture hall than the entire population of Borden. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Borden had a population of 281 people.

Overall, Sutherland has been amused when she explains to folks at the University of Michigan about where she is from.

“It is funny, because usually, I’ll be in a conversation with someone, and I’ll be like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m from a small town,’” said Sutherland. “They are like, ‘Oh, me too like there are only like 5,000 people.’

“I’m like you don’t understand. You don’t even understand. Once I try to explain it to people I think it is hard for them to even grasp like growing up in a place that small until they like see it on the map and there is only like six streets type of thing.

“It is really hard for them to actually wrap their minds around it that people actually come from places that small.”

Still, the gal from the small town has proven she can make an impact on the biggest stages. On July 30 at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Langley, B.C., Sutherland won the senior women’s 400-metre hurdles final in a time of 56.14 seconds. She just edged out Brooke Overholt from St. Mary’s, Ont., who had a time of 56.17 seconds.

Sutherland spent the majority of July training at the Track and Field Track on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds preparing for nationals. She enjoys coming back to the state-of-the-art facility in Saskatoon to train.

Savannah Sutherland blasts over a hurdle while training on June 8, 2021.

“I’m always so excited to come home and just see everybody and reconnect with everybody,” said Sutherland. “This is where I grew up running.

“I’m always excited to come back here. I’m always excited to compete for Canada and compete for Saskatchewan. I never forget who I am representing even when I’m in the States.

“It is always mentioned, ‘Oh, girl from small town Saskatchewan.’ I’m really proud to be from where I am from.”

Post-season chase on the diamonds heats up photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The MMKL Delisle Pride captains accept a finalists’ plaque.

July and August are the months players on the local baseball and softball diamonds live for.

The post-seasons in both those sports hit a sprint to the finish with teams in pursuit of provincial and national titles. Teams go all out playing for prizes only one club can win.

For the second straight year, the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s 18U AAA Championship Tournament was hosted on our grounds. The South East Twins and Saskatoon Cubs finished first and second respectively in the regular season standings and were eliminated in the semifinal round. The Muenster based East Central Red Sox made the title game for a second straight year, and after coming up short in 2022, they had a golden finish in 2023.

Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Fast Pitch Championship Tournament wrapped up on our grounds on August 6. The host MMKL Delisle Pride took local supporters on a fun ride reaching the championship game. They fell to the Tavistock Merchants from Ontario in the gold medal contest at Bob Van Impe Stadium, and the victory marked the second straight year the Merchants captured the U23 Canadian title.

The setback in the championship clash didn’t diminish what was a great campaign for the Pride. The lead photo of our photo round up shows the Pride captains accepting a plaque for making the gold medal final.

The action on the softball diamonds continues as Softball Canada’s U17 Girls’ Fast Pitch Championship Tournament runs from August 9 to 13. This event features a staggering 24 teams from across the country.

Away from the diamonds, the Track and Field Track hosted the Saskatchewan Track and Field Championships presented by the Bob Adams Foundation from July 14 to 16. For a second straight year, this event was a great success on our grounds.

Various flag and touch football leagues made certain things stayed active at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

These photos 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 14 shots we hope you enjoy.

Big throw

Nicole Ostertag launches a shot during the senior women’s shot put competition at the Saskatchewan Track and Field Championships presented by the Bob Adams Foundation held at the Track and Field Track on July 14. Ostertag finished second in the competition with a throw of 12.70 metres. On July 29, Ostertag won gold in the women’s heptathlon at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Langley, B.C.

Up and over at high altitude

Teresa Hill clears 3.55-metres to win the masters women’s pole vault competition at the Saskatchewan Track and Field Championships presented by the Bob Adams Foundation held at the Track and Field Track on July 14. Hill approaches each of her attempts with incredible focus.

Blast off

A group of runners jets away from the start line during a sprint event at the Saskatchewan Track and Field Championships presented by the Bob Adams Foundation held at the Track and Field Track on July 14. Each of the runners is focused on achieving their best form and running their own race.

That will be good for six

A receiver tracks the ball into her hands for a touchdown during a Saskatoon Touch Football League game at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on July 18. The Saskatoon Touch Football League is home to some great action in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

Special delivery

A Saskatoon Outlaws pitcher sends an off-speed throw to the plate in a game against the Saskatoon Dodgers in Saskatoon Senior Baseball League action on July 19 at Cairns Field. The circuit’s league playoffs are slated for August 12 and 13 and if necessary August 14 at Cairns Field.

A berry good look

A sign noting Cairns Field will be the home of the WCBL’s Saskatoon Berries with the team’s new logo went up at the facility on July 28. This sign is attached to the back of a set of stands at Cairns Field. There is also a new logoed Saskatoon Berries sign at the entrance to the park.

Peak ceremonial pitch form

Joe Carnahan, who is the head coach of the WCBL’s Saskatoon Berries, threw out the ceremonial first pitch during the opening ceremonies for the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s 18U AAA Championship Tournament held on July 28 at Cairns Field. The local baseball community is excited to have Carnahan serving as the Berries head coach as the team begins play in 2024.

Celebrate good times, come on

The Saskatoon Cubs were a pumped-up bunch celebrating scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 4-3 win over the Sask Five Giants on July 28 at Cairns Field. That contest closed out the first day of play for the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s 18U AAA Championship Tournament. The Cubs would ultimately fall in a semifinal contest.

Smash Drive

Cam Marshak drives a ball into the outfield for his East Central Red Sox during the championship game of the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s 18U AAA Championship Tournament on July 30 at Cairns Field. The shortstop went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored in his club’s 6-3 victory over the Regina Wolfpack. Marshak was named a co-winner of the SPBL’s Top Hitter Award along with Carter Beck of the South East Twins. Beck also claimed honours as the league’s MVP. Jevon Parent of the Saskatoon Cubs was named the circuit’s top pitcher.

Red Sox all smiles for SPBL title

The East Central Red Sox post for the customary team photo after winning the gold medal game at Cairns Field of the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s 18U AAA Championship Tournament on July 30. The Red Sox downed the Regina Wolfpack 6-3 in the title game scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie.

Pumped for host’s homer

The MMKL Delisle Pride celebrate second baseman Will Major’s three-run home run to centre field during play at Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Fast Pitch Championship Tournament on August 4 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. With Major’s homer, they downed the Owen Sound Selects 10-1.

Fans turn out in droves

The fans came out in large number for the championship game of Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Fast Pitch Championship Tournament held on August 6 at Bob Van Impe Stadium between the MMKL Delisle Pride and the Tavistock Merchants. The size of the crowds increased as the week went on as the Pride made the event’s title game. The Merchants prevailed over the Pride 11-1.

Championship drive

Right-fielder Derek Erb drives a two-run homer out of the park for the Tavistock Merchants in the championship game of Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Fast Pitch Championship Tournament held on August 6 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Erb’s home run contributed to a seven-run outburst in the bottom of the second as the Merchants downed the host MMKL Delisle Pride 11-1.

Merchants Canadian champs once again

The Tavistock Merchants pose for the customary team picture after winning the gold medal game of Softball Canada’s U23 Men’s Fast Pitch Championship Tournament held on August 6 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Merchants celebrated their second straight Canadian title win.

Cubs’ Stromberg packs a punch with small size

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Osher Stromberg works behind the plate as the Cubs catcher.

Osher Stromberg said being small has its advantages when it comes to playing baseball.

“Really how I see it, I get a lot of walks because of it,” said Stromberg with a chuckle. “It really helps me, if anything.”

The 16-year-old second-year catcher with the Saskatoon Cubs baseball team stands 5-foot-4 and weighs 130 pounds. He is the smallest player in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s under-18 AAA level. Due to standing only 5-foot-4, opposing pitchers have a harder time hitting the strike zone when Stromberg is at the plate helping his on base percentage.

With that noted, Cubs assistant coach Jordan Frey said people who see the Cubs play quickly find out Stromberg is a good player and one of the top catchers at the under-18 AAA level in Saskatchewan.

“I think his game calling is probably one of the best in the league,” said Frey. “Obviously, he is not the biggest guy behind the plate, but he has a really good arm.

“He is able to get outs for us. He is a leader. He blocks the balls back there no matter what.

“We can play him at catcher when it is plus-35 out for two games, and he doesn’t complain. He puts the gear on, and he gives it 110 per cent every day.”

Frey said the Cubs coaches were always excited about bringing Stromberg to the Cubs believing they were going to get a good player. The bench boss added the squad had to use some misdirection in order to bring him to the team.

Osher Stromberg, left, chats with pitcher Jared Tameling.

In the Saskatoon Zone for minor baseball, players entering their 15-year-old seasons going to the under-18 AAA level are divided between the city’s three teams in the Cubs, Diamondbacks and Giants via a draft. Players go though a tryout process including skill session evaluations and playing in exhibition games amongst the group trying out.

The tryout process usually occurs in September for the upcoming season in the next calendar year. After the September tryout process is held, the teams conduct a draft to distribute players.

Frey said Stromberg stood out, but the Cubs coaches put up a façade about being worried about Stromberg’s small size when they crossed paths with the coaches of the Diamondbacks and Giants. The Cubs coaches hoped that might create some doubt among the Diamondbacks and Giants coaches when it came to picking Stromberg, which would allow the Cubs to land him.

“That was kind of way we got him,” said Frey. “We had to fib a little bit and tell other teams he was a little small, and we were not sure how he will be.

“That was the way we got him was by making sure that other teams didn’t want him height wise. I think it has paid off for us.”

Stromberg said he became interested in playing baseball around age nine after his grandpa took him to a fastpitch softball tournament. He wanted to play the type of game where you used a bat to hit the ball, and it stuck with him how players in both sports were pumped to play.

“I just liked how everyone was so excited about it and really got amped up in the game,” said Stromberg.

Stromberg added there was another softball influence that drew him into becoming a catcher in baseball.

Osher Stromberg sets up for an at bat with the Cubs.

“At first, I was scared of the ball,” said Stromberg. “My mom told me she was a catcher when she played softball, so that is kind of what got me into that.”

Last season, Stromberg lived through a dream rookie campaign with the Cubs. The Cubs finished first overall in the SPBL standings with a 24-6 record and won the SPBL championship tournament hosted at Cairns and Leakos Fields.

In the tournament’s championship game played on July 24, 2022 at Cairns Field, the Cubs downed the Muenster-based East Central Red Sox 12-6 in front of about 1,000 spectators.

“That was pretty cool having everyone cheering for us, because we were the hometown team,” said Stromberg. “It was fun.”

The Cubs advanced to Baseball Canada’s Under-18 Nationals that were held in Grande Prairie, Alta., from August 18 to 21, 2022. They finished with a 4-2 overall record falling in the event’s bronze medal game 5-4 in extra innings to the Nanaimo, B.C., based Mid Island Pirates.

Overall, Stromberg couldn’t ask for a better experience for his first season with the Cubs.

“It is awesome,” said Stromberg. “I love all the players.

“We all blend really well together. The coaches are really into it. It is just all-around fun times.

“That was pretty cool being a part of the team that goes to nationals. Everyone was talking about it. To be able to be a part of that was pretty cool.”

This season Stromberg has called games well for his pitchers, made the throw to second base consistently to get base stealers out, stroked the ball well at the plate and run the base paths with conviction. He said it is more serious being a catcher at the under-18 AAA level compared to being a catcher in younger age groups.

Osher Stromberg looks for an opening to get a steal.

“At younger levels, they say anyone can be a catcher, but at this level, you really can’t,” said Stromberg, who will be going into his Grade 12 school year in the fall at Evan Hardy Collegiate. “You have to be able to focus and just really know what you are doing back there.”

When it comes calling games behind the plate, Stromberg said one of the big keys is communicating with the pitchers who take the mound to get a sense of where they are at that day.

“It is just seeing how the pitcher is feeling and what they can throw and what is good,” said Stromberg, who trains with Going Yard Training Centre at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex during the off-season. “(It is seeing) the hitters and how they hit certain pitches and what the count is.

“There are lots of factors that go into that.”

This season the Cubs have built a 16-5 record and are one of five teams in a dogfight for first place. The SPBL Under-18 AAA championship tournament will be held once again at Cairns and Leakos Fields from July 28 to 30. The winner of that event advances to Baseball Canada’s Under-18 Nationals, which will be held August 17 to 20 in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

As the season hits its stretch run, Frey said Stromberg will play a big part in how the Cubs finish out.

“It is going to be huge just the part with Osher catching,” said Frey, who added the Cubs will also use Jared Tameling at catcher too in provincials. “It is tough going down the stretch when it gets hot, and you’re catching day in and day out.

“It is nice that we have two catchers that we can use. You usually need two or three to get through a provincial weekend. He (Stromberg) works with all our pitchers.

“He is great with them. He is just a natural born leader. It is something that if he didn’t have it would put us behind the eight-ball a little bit.”

Osher Stromberg, centre, and the Cubs celebrate a win.

Stromberg is looking forward to playing out the stretch run and the SPBL championship tournament at home. He believes a few more good memories can be made.

“As a team, we’ve been playing good,” said Stromberg. “We’ve had a little less on the bats than last year, but defensively we’ve been great.

“Pitching wise, we’ve been great. We’re looking forward to the rest of it. I’m so excited.

“I’m ready to play in that provincial ball and having the fans in it and being really just into games. There is lots of tension in those games (last year). It is going to be great.”

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.”