What a year it was for baseball in Saskatchewan.
From the grassroots growth that continues in almost every community to successes in high school and college programs to outstanding performances at national events, it was a year to remember.
It was an honour for us to launch Saskatchewan Dugout Stories in February, leading to us writing 111,841 words for 87 stories.
And we’re just getting started!
Heading into 2025, we can’t claim to know who will win major awards or get selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, or who might come forward with an extraordinary story to tell.
But we can give you an idea on some of the things we will be keeping an eye on heading into the next 12 months.
As we plan to do every year, here is our first annual look-ahead to what might be major storylines.
NO. 1 … SUMMER-TIME IN THE WCBL
After an action-packed 2024 season, the Western Canadian Baseball League will once again be full of major storylines.
After two appearances in the last three league finals, can the Moose Jaw Miller Express get the monkey off their backs to claim a title? What will the Saskatoon Berries do for an encore after an outstanding debut campaign? What will the Regina Red Sox do to avenge getting upset in the first round after an outstanding regular season? Can the Swift Current 57’s and Weyburn Beavers manoeuvre themselves back into a playoff spot?
Add that into an ongoing run of record-setting seasons at the turnstiles and the new Rural Roots Game, and we will have no shortage of coverage from the Western Canadian Baseball League.
NO. 2 … BRINGING THE ‘SHIP HOME
The Regina Trappers have become a powerhouse by claiming two-straight silver medals at the Baseball Canada Men’s National Championships. However, their first gold medal continues to elude them and their appetite to win it all will grow even more in 2025 as they will play host to the national tournament Aug. 21-24.
The team hopes having friends and family in the stands will put them over the top, while they believe the entire province of Saskatchewan will “show up and show out” to make for a memorable experience.
NO. 3 … OFF TO COLLEGE
Carnduff’s Carter Beck and Saskatoon’s Payton McHarg stole the show in 2024 with their incredible performances with the University of Mary and Washburn University, respectively. Both will be looking to up the ante again in 2025 (Beck has transferred to Indiana State University while McHarg will stay with the Ichabods).
It will be exciting to watch all of the Saskatchewan-born athletes take their game to the next level, whether it be at an American school or in the Canadian College Baseball Conference, with hopes of catching the eyes of pro scouts.
NO. 4 … BLAZING A TRAIL FOR THE GIRLS’ GAME
It will be a big year for the female game as girls baseball will make its debut at the Canada Summer Games. Saskatchewan has quickly turned into a powerhouse on the national stage, especially after all four teams (14U, 16U, 21U and Women’s Open) played in the medal round at Baseball Canada championships in 2024 (with the 21U team winning silver and the others finishing in fourth place).
There’s also a growing excitement about a new six-team professional women’s league coming in 2026, and it shows that the women’s game has a plethora of momentum heading into this year.
NO. 5 … WHEN YOU BUILD IT
With the political part of building a new baseball stadium in Regina seemingly behind us, it’s now up to the Regina Red Sox organization to get the pieces in place to eventually get it built.
The city has been negotiating a 25-year lease for Currie Field with the WCBL’s Red Sox, with an exit plan built in should a proposed stadium at the site of the old Taylor Field or in the downtown railyards finally become a reality.
Living Sky Sports and Entertainment founder Al Simpson says they will need to upgrade Currie as the process for a new stadium plays out, telling us last summer that, in an ideal world, they are opening their new digs in 2027.
We could probably go on for days about some of the stories we’re looking to tell in 2025. A top-five almost didn’t feel like enough when we consider all the other big-ticket items like the coming MLB and Minor League Baseball seasons, the MLB Draft and much more.
Any other stories you can think of or want us to know about? What are you looking forward to the most? Drop us a line by commenting below or on our social media posts!
Tales of Baseball 