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| Braxton Buckberger fires off a pitch for the Cubs. |
Those words have been spoken lots at various sports fields
around Saskatoon due to the fact the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic still
grips the world. When games come to an end, thoughts drift towards a natural
act of sportsmanship, which has become frowned upon in order to prevent the
spread of the virus.
That common query about handshakes doesn’t dampen an
uplifting development. For the past two weeks in Saskatoon, a number of minor
sports have resumed.
Baseball and softball games are taking place at a number of
diamonds across the city.
On Tuesday, Golf Saskatchewan will start running its women’s
amateur, men’s amateur and men’s mid-amateur championship tournaments at The
Legends Golf Club in Warman.
Actually on Thursday, Golf Saskatchewan’s junior boys and
girls provincial championship tournaments concluded at the Elmwood Golf Club in
Swift Current. Josh Nagy of Saskatoon took the boys’ title with a 3-under-par
213 over three rounds, and Brooklin Fry of Shell Lake claimed the girls’ championship
with a 7-over-par 223 over three rounds.
Across the province over the past two weeks, it has become
easier to locate an amateur sporting event that is taking place.
Those who are involved with sports organizations across Saskatchewan have focused over the last four months on flattening the curve. The reward has come with actual competition.
Those who are involved with sports organizations across Saskatchewan have focused over the last four months on flattening the curve. The reward has come with actual competition.
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| Softball has been in action at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. |
One of the best examples of that took place at Leakos Field
on Saturday as the Saskatoon Cubs faced the Muenster Red Sox in doubleheader
battle between U-18 AAA baseball teams.
The host Cubs had a sound system set up to allow for someone
to fulfill the role of public address announcer and for music to be played
between each half inning.
A quaint crowd took in the games, and physically spaced out
down the baselines of the park. When groups of four gathered, everyone was
usually from the same family unit or at least had close personal ties.
As the Cubs swept the series with an 11-10 victory in the
first contest and a 13-8 win in the second encounter, it felt like the troubles
in the current world were forgotten for a short time.
Overall, it just seems right to go to a place like the
Gordie Howe Sports Complex on a weekday night and hear activity in the air
across all its baseball and softball diamonds. During May and June especially,
it felt like something was missing when those sounds weren’t there.
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| A baseball hitter fouls off a pitch at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. |
Seeing the Regina racers hit the track, it has to spark
optimism that action will return at the immaculate Wyant Group Raceway in
Saskatoon.
About six days ago via social media, the crew from the
Saskatoon Stock Car Racing Association said work is still going on with the
Saskatchewan Health Authority to try and run events in August and September.
The Wyant Group Raceway can pack in 3,319 spectators and
usually hosts an annual NASCAR Pinty’s Series stop. It is the dream track in
Saskatchewan.
While it would be nice if the entire sports world in the province
was back in action, the sports action that has taken place has been good for
the soul.
Huskies to get new turf at Griffiths, other
notes
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| Adam Machart and the Huskies will get new turf at Griffiths Stadium. |
On Friday, the Huskies hosted a press conference and ground breaking
ceremony at Griffiths.
It marked the first time the Huskies hosted any type of
function on campus since a rally was held at the Physical Activity Complex on March
11. The rally on that day served to honour the Huskies women’s basketball team
for winning a U Sports national title and individual U Sports national
champions gold medal winners from the Huskies wrestling and track and field teams.
It was believed the Huskies would receive funding from the
Government of Saskatchewan to replace the turf at Griffiths Stadium that was
installed for the start of the 2006 season. Field turfs usually have a life of
10 years before needing to be replaced, and the one at Griffiths was past its
expiry date.
Due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the
world, one had to wonder if the turf replacement would happen.
On Friday, it was announced the U of S received
$3.14-million in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan to replace the
turf at Griffiths.
On top of replacing the turf, the funding will include a
field expansion to accommodate regulation-sized football and soccer events,
improving the shock absorption of the playing surface and an update to the
lighting system to help reduce power consumption.
Midfielder Taneil Gay, who has played four seasons with the
Huskies women’s soccer team, and running back Adam Machart, who is coming off a
stellar campaign with the Huskies football team, both spoke at Friday’s
festivities.
A final soccer and football kickoff was performed on the
current turf before a ceremonial ground breaking took place.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huskies football and
soccer team saw their 2020 campaigns get cancelled.
While it is uncertain if any U Sports activities will take
place in 2020-21, the turf replacement at Griffiths was a welcome bit of good
news during this down time for the Huskies program.
- On Wednesday, the Canada West Conference announced it was cancelling its cross-country championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was going to be hosted in the fall by the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. The Canada West swimming championships, which were slated for November, are being rescheduled for early 2021. The Canada West golf championships are slated for Oct. 2-4 in Kelowna, B.C.
- The Saskatoon Blades have created an alumni registry. The Blades are working to build a database of players and staff who have been a part of the franchise since its inception in 1964. Former Blades players and staffers who would like to join the registry can do by accessing a form on the team’s website that can be found by clicking right here.
- On Wednesday, Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Daemon Hunt and Everett Silvertips centre Gage Goncalves were added to the roster for Hockey Canada’s national junior team summer development camp. The camp is being held in a virtual form online from July 27 to 31.
- On Wednesday, USA Hockey cancelled its summer showcase slated to start this coming Friday and run through to July 31 in Plymouth, Mich. Originally, USA Hockey invited 44 players to this event that was slated to be part of the evaluation process to determine the makeup for the United States’ entry at world juniors. The upcoming world juniors are slated to run Dec. 26, 2020 to Jan. 5, 2021 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.
- On Wednesday, the Tournament of Roses Parade slated for January 1, 2021 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tournament of Roses Parade is normally held on an annual basis in New Year’s Day in Pasadena, Calif.
- Gregg Drinnan has continued to track how the COVID-19 pandemic has wrecked havoc on the sports world in his Taking Note blog. His roundup from Friday can be found by clicking right here.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
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