*This story was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on October 25. You can read it here.

October 29, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

Blink and it feels like you missed it.

The baseball season across the Canadian prairies flies by, especially when the weather cooperates, and that was the case again in Saskatchewan in 2024.

After the dust settles and the cooler temperatures start taking hold each year, Baseball Sask recognizes the best of the best athletes, coaches, managers, umpires, volunteers and more with their annual banquet.

The 2024 edition was held Oct. 19 in Regina, putting the wraps on what was another banner year.

“It was another very successful season across the province,” Baseball Sask executive director Mike Ramage told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “I am thrilled to have had our membership total increase once again, pushing our numbers to over 19,000.”

He says the organization also set an all-time record for number of teams entering provincial playoffs (315) as well as a record number of provincial championships (43).

It was a blur of a year, but one worth celebrating.

GIRLS GOT GAME

A big highlight of the year for Ramage was the progression of the girls and women’s programs in the province.

Saskatchewan took home the silver medal at the 21U Baseball Canada Championships in Summerside, P.E.I., while the 16U Girls, Senior Women and 14U Girls teams all advanced to the bronze medal games, falling just short of the podium.

“We have taken tremendous strides with our female baseball program,” Ramage said. “Saskatchewan is now looked at as a major player in each of these events and we look forward to building off this success.”

Among the individual award winners was Amy Johnson, who picked up the Female Player of the Year award.

She was a key piece of the success for the 21U and Senior Women’s teams and was rewarded for her work with a spot on the Baseball Canada Women’s National Team.

“Winning the Female Player of the Year award means a lot to me,” Johnson said. “It’s nice seeing all my hard work throughout the year be recognized and I hope it inspires other girls playing baseball to keep working hard so one day they can win the award as well.”

The Saskatoon product says the award was created three years ago, and it’s become something for girls to aspire to going forward.

The Minor Female Player of the Year was Ava Hill.

MUENSTER SMASH

Another athlete garnering plenty of attention nationally was named the Male Player of the Year during the ceremony.

Merek Yeager helped Saskatchewan to a fourth-place finish at the Baseball Canada Cup before heading to Toronto for the Canadian Futures Showcase, where he put in another solid performance.

The Muenster product has been on the national radar for a while as well, having pitched for the Junior National Team.

“This award means a lot as it shows that people are seeing my hard work and are happy to see me grow and be successful,” Yeager said. “I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity and award.”

The Minor Male Player of the Year was Regina’s Jaxon Weir.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Ramage says, of particular note, he was proud to nominate Ken Hamilton for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Assiniboia native has spent the last 32 years as a member of the Baseball Sask board, serving in a variety of roles, including Zone Director, Zone Governor, 15U Supervisor, 18U Supervisor, Vice-President, President, Past-President and, most recently, Co-Commissioner.

“Ken has been a shining example of what a true volunteer board member should look like,” Ramage said. “We are extremely fortunate and thankful to have had him serve in these important roles over the last 32 years.”

He adds they will miss Hamilton immensely as he heads off into retirement.

Ramage also says the contributions of Ethan Ginther, Tyson Black and Lauren Owens were integral to the growth of the girls and women’s programs.

Ginther and Black were coaches for three of the programs, while Owens coached two while she was a player on the Senior Women’s Team.

They were recognized for their efforts with the Joe McDonald Special Award of Merit.

CELEBRATING THE BEST

Here is a full list of the 2024 Baseball Sask Award winners:

Lou Slotsve Junior Official of the Year – Barrett Fleck (Bienfait)

Rocky Nickel Senior Official of the Year – Alana Wilson (Manor)

Builder of the Year – Tom Courville (Yorkton)

Sponsor of the Year – Pete Sereggela (Estevan)

Joe McDonald Special Award of Merit – Tyson Black, Ethan Ginther and Lauren Owens (Saskatoon)

Grass Roots Coach of the Year – Glenn McDonald (Elrose)

Coach of the Year – Curt Korte (Saskatoon)

Minor Team of the Year – Regina 13U AAA White Sox

Senior Team of the Year – Estevan 18U AA Brewers

Minor Female Player of the Year – Ava Hill (Saskatoon)

Minor Male Player of the Year – Jaxon Weir (Regina)

Female Player of the Year – Amy Johnson (Saskatoon)

Male Player of the Year – Merek Yeager (Muenster)

Lifetime Achievement Award – Ken Hamilton (Assiniboia)

McFarland: Baseball Saskatchewan announces award winners