Representing her home province is going to look a little different this time for Beth Sarauer.
The Clavet native will undoubtedly have a few familiar faces in the stands when she and her Team Saskatchewan teammates take to the field at the Baseball Canada 19U Women’s National Championships in Saskatoon.
Fresh off playing at the Women’s Open Nationals in Winnipeg earlier this month, the 16-year-old is a rising star for Baseball Sask, as she is also still eligible to play at the 16U Nationals in Moncton later this summer.
This tournament, though, will mean something much more.
“Having the 19U event in Saskatoon this year will be a lot of fun with lots of family out,” Sarauer told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories.
“I remember watching the 16U nationals when they were in Saskatoon a couple of years ago and it seemed really fun, so I’m excited for it.”
While she’s hoping to be an impact player on home turf, the utility player is also mindful of the influence she can have off it this coming weekend.
SASK’S RISING STAR
The fact that Sarauer is suiting up in the green and gold for three different teams should come as no surprise to anyone.
Born into a baseball family, she says she was always around it with her parents and loved it from the first moments she was registered to play herself.
“I think it was just the competitive side of it,” Sarauer said. “I just had a drive for baseball for as long as I can remember because it’s a team sport but it’s also an individual sport and I really like that about it.”
She started suiting up with the Saskatoon Royals and eventually caught the attention of the Baseball Sask brass, who invited her to play at the 2025 14U Westerns and the Canada Summer Games. She was also an affiliate player for the team that took home bronze at the 19U Nationals in Calgary.
Although younger than most of her teammates, Sarauer loved the opportunity to learn from those around her.
“I get to be around players that are so much older than me and have so much more experience,” she said. “I get to learn from them and it’s always a lot of fun.”
ENJOY THE MOMENT
While she wouldn’t call herself a “veteran” quite yet, Sarauer is hoping to bring some of what she has learned to the field.
That includes her first stint with Baseball Sask’s Women’s Team, which finished sixth at nationals earlier this month.
It taught her a little more about what to expect out of herself and the team going into the tournament in Saskatoon.
“I just want to play with confidence,” Sarauer said. “I think we have a lot of good arms this year, so we just need to get on the bats and play some good defense.”
The goal is always to bring home more hardware, but she adds she values the time spent with teammates and meeting new players from across the country.
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
While she might not yet have perfected her signature on baseballs, it might be a regular request for Sarauer and her teammates as they host the national championship.
With so many young players, particularly girls, in attendance, she understands the gravity of what’s about to happen because she was in their shoes just a few years ago.
The pitcher and first base player is also looking forward to conversations with them to share some lessons from her own experiences, including the importance of resiliency and being a good teammate.
“I would honestly tell them to not lose themselves along the way,” Sarauer said. “I know a lot of people get caught up in the skills and competition part of the game, but you just have to take a step back and recognize that you’re here for fun and you’re here playing the game around people who love the game, too.”
It’s clear she loves the game for all the right reasons and hopes to have it all out on display during the tournament as well as the 16U Nationals.
“It’s crazy to me that I get to play for Team Sask,” Sarauer said. “It means a lot to me that I have the right people around me and the right opportunities like this.”
The Baseball Canada 19U Women’s National Championship is scheduled for July 30-August 2 at Cairns Field and Leakos Field.
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