Saskatoon Berries gear up for playoffs as regular season winds down
On Monday, the Saskatoon Berries faced off against the Moose Jaw Miller Express in their final regular season game.
Like their season, the game had a slow start but gained momentum in the latter half, with the Berries emerging victorious with a 4-3 win. The team is now gearing up for the playoffs.
Berries coach Joe Carnahan said clinching the playoff spot was just the first of many goals for the organization.
"I mean, at the start of the season that's always our goal, and we have more goals that we want to achieve throughout the playoffs, and that's step one. We're glad we've got that, but we're also looking forward to reaching some of our other goals," said Carnahan
Next up, the Berries will face the Medicine Hat Mavericks in the East Division semi-final on Wednesday.
The team has recently played against the Mavericks, splitting the games with a loss and a commanding 11-3 win.
Jalen Freeman, an outfielder for the berries spoke to their previous games against the Mavericks.
"They really can swing it. The day before they had like 20 hits. They can swing it, so we gotta be ready to go swing it as well," said Freeman.
The Berries struggled at the start of the season to secure wins, but midway through the season, something changed, leading the team to clinch their playoff spot.
"Right away we didn't come out with a lot of wins at the start of the season. We were waiting for some players to get here. The players did a good job sticking with their routines and being in it for the long haul. Not riding the roller coaster of ups and downs. If you have a good approach and you have that consistency, it usually pays off in the end," said Carnahan.
The team has come a long way since its inception and is grateful for the fans' support along the way.
Berries infielder Anibal Rivera says he's seen strong fan support both on and off the field.
"The ones that are really supportive, and like if you go to the store, and you have a hat or something representing the Berries, they'll go like, 'Yo, what do you play?' It's awesome, I love it," said Rivera.
The Berries hope that fan support will continue as the playoff season kicks off.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. presidential historian predicts results of November elections. Here's who he says will win
An American presidential historian is predicting a Kamala Harris presidency as the outcome of the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
NDP MPs embrace distance from 'radioactive' Trudeau brand, as Singh convenes caucus in Montreal
Just days after demolishing his deal with Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is holding a three-day strategy session with his MPs in Montreal, where his MPs are embracing their new-found distance from what one called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 'radioactive' brand.
Inquiry into U.K. hospital where a nurse killed 7 babies will not review evidence against her
An inquiry into an English hospital where a neonatal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill seven others began Tuesday as her supporters push to clear her name.
Buyers say they lost life savings to a Saskatchewan company selling luxury vacation condos
In 2022, Tanya Frisk-Welburn and her husband bought what they hoped would be a dream home in Mexico.
Judge reserves decision on Hoggard bail attempt as singer seeks SCOC leave to appeal
A justice with Ontario's Appeal Court has reserved her decision on whether Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard should get bail as he tries to appeal his sexual assault conviction at the country's top court.
Canadian fast food chains create value menus to win back customers
Canada’s restaurant industry is in a slump as money conscious consumers are eating out less and spending less when they do go out.
7-Eleven ordered to pay B.C. woman $907K for pothole injury
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ordered 7-Eleven Canada to pay a woman more than $900,000 in damages after she tripped on a pothole and broke her ankle in the parking lot of a convenience store.
Viral Olympian Raygun ranked No. 1 breaker in the world by sport's governing body
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, the Olympian widely known as B-Girl Raygun who went viral after her performance at the Paris Games, is now ranked the No. 1 breaker in the world.
Forgotten Cheetos snack bag can have 'world-changing' impact, U.S. national park says
A U.S. national park is cautioning tourists about how a small bag of Cheetos could have an enormous impact.