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
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.