After summer season was struck out by COVID-19, fall baseball thrives in Saskatoon
Going Yard Baseball has seen a surge in registrations for fall baseball after COVID-19 foiled the summer season.
“2018 and before we would’ve hosted maybe one or two teams in an age division, now we’re finding enough registrations that we can make three or four teams in an age division,” Jordan Drager told CTV News. Drager formed the league in 2014 after he returned to Saskatoon from playing college baseball in West Virginia.
For James Heapy, having the fall option after two uncertain regular seasons was a relief.
“It was a roller coaster of emotions. It was like, we can’t quite do it, maybe next year, maybe next week,” Heapy said.
He’s been playing his favourite sport into the fall for three years.
Evan Helt has been enjoying fall ball also because it is different from regular spring ball.
“In my league there’s tiers so you don’t really see many players, but in fall ball, everybody is there so you get to learn about more baseball and how people play,” Helt said.
The September option has grown in popularity over the past few years, but COVID-19 has led to an even bigger surge.
Inside Pitch across the city also has fall programs. Cory Hall runs that program and played professionally with the Kansas City Royals.
Here he has four teams with 50 players competing against teams from Regina and Swift Current.
One of the big plusses to playing outside the traditional baseball season is having a competitive edge against other players when they return to the diamond in the spring.
“When I first started here in fall ball, I was still learning how to hit the ball, now I’ve hit home runs at these fields now,” Helt said.
Another appeal for parents and players with both programs is the option to travel to tournaments in the United States.
The Going Yard has taken players to compete in Phoenix before the pandemic and hopes to do so when it’s safe again.
Inside Pitch is planning to travel to a tournament in Las Vegas in November, restrictions permitting.
Do you have a story idea or news tip? Email us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.