Berries’ “Field of Dreams”

Beck hits for cycle in Game 1 romp of WCBL East Division final

Carter Beck hits his triple to complete hitting the cycle on Sunday.

“Perfect.”

That was the fitting description for what took place for the Saskatoon Berries in Game 1 of the WCBL’s East Division Championship series. With a crowd of 1,559 spectators packed into Cairns Field on what was the most beautiful Sunday afternoon you could ever see in Saskatoon, the host Berries romped to a 14-1 win over the Moose Jaw Millers Express.

The Berries will try to close out the best-of-three set in Game 2 on Monday at 7 p.m. at Ross Wells Stadium in Moose Jaw. If the Express are able to rebound and win Game 2, a series deciding Game 3 will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Cairns Field.

Carter Beck jets around second base on his way to a triple.

In Sunday’s Game 1 win, it seemed like everyone who took the field for the Berries had a highlight moment. The Berries most well-known star was their biggest star, and he stole the show.

Centre-fielder Carter Beck hit for the cycle going 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs batted in. For those not familiar with baseball terms, hitting for the cycle meant Beck, who is from Carnduff, Sask., collected a single, a double, a triple and a home run in one game. It is one of the most difficult statistical feats to accomplish in baseball.

In Major League Baseball, there have only been 347 occurrences where a player has hit for the cycle with the first coming from Curry Foley of the Buffalo Bisons on May 25, 1882. The MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays have been in existence since 1977, and they’ve had only three players hit for the cycle with Kelly Gruber being the first back on April 16, 1989.

Carter Beck slides save into third to complete a triple and the cycle.

Beck got things started for the Berries on Sunday leading off the bottom of the first with a double. Second baseman Grant Sommers came up to bat second and drove Beck home with a double for the host side’s first run of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth with a man on, Beck, who is 19-years-old, hit a two-run homer to put the Berries up 8-0 at that point in the contest. Beck followed up his double hitting a single in the bottom of the sixth, and he would later score on a sacrifice grounder to first hit by catcher Ethan Menard to push the Berries advantage out to 10-0.

Kolt Davis threw the final four innings for the Berries on the hill.

In the bottom of the seventh with a man on, Beck, who stands 6-feet and weighs 190s pounds, drove an opposite field shot from the right side of the plate that curved away from the Millers left-fielder. Beck hit the afterburners rounding first and second base at lightning speed and slid head first safe into third base for his cycle-completing triple that drove in a run.

Sommers proceeded to drive Beck home with a single to complete a four-run inning that saw the Berries lead stand at 14-0. The Express scored their lone run in the top of the eighth.

The Berries outhit the Express 19-6 on the afternoon. Sommers and third baseman Jaden Lamothe were both 3-for-4 at the plate for Saskatoon. Shortstop Anibal Rivera was 2-for-4 at the dish for the Berries, while left-fielder Nolan Sparks and Menard with both 2-for-5 at the plate.

Grant Sommers throw to make a put out at first for the Berries.

Saskatoon also shone on defence. In the top of the seventh, Express designated hitter Joe Osborn hit a dying quail into right field that looked sure to drop for a base hit. Berries right-fielder Jalen Freeman dove from a full sprint head first to make the catch to rob Osborn of the sure hit bringing the faithful at Cairns Field out of their seats to a joyful and appreciative cheer.

The hitting and defence brought a trademark ear to ear grin from Berries head coach Joe Carnahan.

The pitching was also on once again for the Berries like it was for their three-game East Division semifinal series win over the Medicine Hat Mavericks. Left-hander Jacob Hadden got the start for the Berries and picked up the win throwing five innings and striking out four batters, while scattering four hits and one walk.

The Berries faithful salute their team at the end of the game on Sunday.

Right-hander Kolt Davis entered the game throwing the final four innings for the Berries striking out one batter, allowing one earned run and scattering two hits and three walks.

Berries pitching coach and former MLB hurler Andrew Albers has taught the young ones well.

For Berries fans, this was the classic great baseball where you relaxed in the stands with the loaded hot dog and downed a can of the Berries team beer brewed locally by 9 Mile Legacy Brewing. What might be piling on for Moose Jaw supporters, Berries beer kicks the butt of any Miller product on the market.

Dominic Archila, left, and Kolt Davis mark Sunday’s win.

The kids that came out had the best time ever whether it was watching the game, playing on recreation structures set up behind the stands or taking part in promotional games. Of course, the highlight was rounding bases following the conclusion of the game high-fiving or hugging Berries mascot Barry The Bear at home plate.

What went down on Sunday afternoon at Cairns Field was a site that was dreamed about when the facility was totally revamped under the watch of the Gordie Howe Sports Complex Management Corporation starting in April of 2018 when the park’s old grandstand was knocked down, and later the Sask Entertainment Group announced on March 29, 2023 it had purchased an expansion WCBL franchise to begin play in May of 2024.

Carter Beck (#20) enjoys Sunday’s win with his teammates.

Berries are the baby of team president Steve Hildebrand, who is best known as the associate general manager of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, and he really, really wanted the team to be a success. It is safe to say everyone linked with the Berries dreamed of an afternoon like the one that came to pass on Sunday, but know one though that scene would come this quickly for the first-year club.

With their home win in Game 1 of the WCBL East Division Championship Series on August 11, 2024, the Berries’ “Field of Dreams” became a reality.

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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