From the Star Phoenix, Sasksatoon:
Champions abound as city’s softball season nears
BY MARK LOEHNDORF, SPECIAL TO THE STARPHOENIX
APRIL 9, 2009As the snow finally begins to melt, fans are starting to look at the diamonds in the hope they will soon be ready to again produce exciting softball action.
For the first time in softball history, local fans will have an opportunity to cheer on four different Canadian champions.
The Saskatoon Minor Softball League’s top boys’ team, the midget A Selects, are primed to defend their title. Dave McCullough’s squad is loaded with talent including two national junior team members, catcher Derek Arsenie and pitcher Devon McCullough.
Earle Woodside’s Saskatoon Junior Outlaws will feature an almost identical lineup to the one that won the junior women’s nationals in Summerside, P.E.I., last year. Last fall, Woodside was named Softball Saskatchewan’s coach of the year for 2008, as he also coached the University of Saskatchewan team to the Canadian Intercollegiate Ladies Softball Championship in October. Although the team has not been finalized, the nucleus of last year’s squad is still available and should challenge again this year.
The burning question in local softball circles over the winter was whether or not Aspen Interiors will be back to defend the senior A men’s Canadian championship they won in Saskatoon. Coach Jason Kurlyk reported this week that Aspen does plan to be back at nationals this year. Kurlyk feels confident his team can challenge again in spite of the loss of four local players, including Dean Holoien and Pat Mackintosh, who were both standouts at last year’s nationals. His nationals roster certainly looks capable, as it will feature five national teamers: Pitchers Korrey Gareau and Trevor Ethier, catcher Sean O’Brien and outfielders Keith Mackintosh and Dale Levy.
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It is no coincidence that with so many national champions, Saskatoon is home to the strongest adult and children softball leagues in the country. Saskatoon Minor Softball League president Lawrence Beatty is looking forward to another great year, as he expects the number of SMSL teams to surpass the 190 that participated last year.
The junior leagues — made up of the squirt, pee wee and bantam divisions — will have the same number of teams as last year. Beatty expects that when all the teams are finalized, the SMSL will see a modest increase in the rookie-league divisions of BlastBall, rookie and mites.
For most SMSL teams the season begins with the 17th annual Early Bird Tournament organized by Zone 2, the Raiders, from May 1-3. League play is set to begin Monday, May 4.
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Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association president Bryan Kosteroski reports SASA league play will also begin May 4 and will feature 24 women’s and 20 men’s teams, up one from last year. Although Aspen will not be part of league play, Kosteroski is happy to welcome back DBJ Leasing into the women’s top division. Coach Jan Hiebert’s team returns to the league after a two-year absence during which Saskatoon was without a senior A women’s team. The first adult tournament of the year has the midget selects hosting the second annual Spring Classic from May 8-10.
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Once league play is complete, these two busy organizations will stay active as they host nine different provincial championships, five by the SMSL and four by the SASA. Saskatoon will demonstrate why it is worthy of its reputation as the softball event capital of the world July 17-26, when the SASA will host the ISF world men’s softball championship.
Co-chairs Keith McLean and Lisa Down and their committee have been very busy over the winter making sure this event will be a success. Local softball fans are in for a real treat this year. If they want to watch top-notch minor softball or the best adult players in the world, no doubt Saskatoon is the place to be for softball fans this summer.
(Loehndorf is a Saskatoon freelance writer)
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