They have all made it their mission to leave baseball in Saskatchewan in a better place than it was when they first started.
From players and coaches to umpires and volunteers, the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was proud to induct nine individuals, three teams and one family with its Class of 2026.
Hosted at the Alex Dillabough Centre in Battleford in mid-August, the celebration was a chance for friends to reconnect and memories to be shared.
The event marked the first ceremony for the Hall’s new president, Earl Berard, who has served in many roles in baseball over the years.
He gave credit to the group of volunteers for putting together another outstanding event.
“The whole team functioned as a team, and that was good to see because it takes a lot of people working together to make it happen,” Berard told panow.com.
Thanks to some notes from the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, here are some brief highlights of each member of the Class of 2026.
George Dimas (Regina)
“George Dimas loves baseball.”
That’s how the Hall of Fame began its induction of the long-time player and coach, who spent his Little League years in Moose Jaw with the Orioles, Tigers and Bisons. He later went onto play with the Astros and Mallards in the Molson Senior Baseball Leagues, then joined the Regina Jets and Ghosts, winning several championships between the ages of 24 and 40.
Dimas gives a lot of credit to one of his coaches, Stan Montgomery, for instilling a love of the game in him, setting an example and helping him throughout his career.
Trevor Drury (Outlook)
Trevor Drury might have one of the more decorated umpiring resumes of anyone in Canadian baseball.
The Outlook native has umpired eight and supervised 10 national championships, and served as crew chief at the 2019 21U National Championships where he received the Gold Metal Plate. He has also worked Western Canadian Baseball League games, two Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcases and received the Dick Williams Award – the highest national honour for an umpire – in 2019.
Drury takes the job seriously and is committed to making it better, serving two terms as provincial supervisor and is also a clinic instructor, evaluator, and committee member. He also helped his teams score the 2010 World Youth Championships, the 2015 18U World Championships, and the 2017 18U World Championships.
Peter Duncan (North Battleford/Red Deer)
Peter Duncan holds the distinction of being the first Canadian to be in the All-American Pacific Eight Conference, but he didn’t just play at Washington State University.
He thrived for the Cougars, the Victoria native broke the school’s record for most hits on his way to a .423 batting average in 1970. During his summers, he played for North Battleford in the Northern Saskatchewan League, helping them win a championship.
Duncan was then signed by the Kansas City Royals and made it to Triple-A in their farm system before returning to North Battleford in 1975, moving to Red Deer for work in 1977. There, he was among the people who began the Red Deer Riggers.
David George (North Battleford)
Many like David George had two sports seasons: hockey and baseball.
The North Battleford native reserved hockey for winter, where he made it to the Western Canadian Hockey League (the precursor to the Western Hockey League) for a few teams. In the summer, he tried to work to pay for hockey but faced challenges there as he wanted to play baseball.
George returned home to play for the North Battleford Beavers from 1979-2002 and coached for six seasons, including time with a young phenom named Andrew Albers. George continues to give back to the game through umpiring and supporting the North Sask River Baseball League.
Tony Kuffner (Regina)
A strong competitor and decorated athlete, Tony Kuffner established himself as a great fastpitch player in the 1970s and 1980s.
He played for the Carlings, Molsons and Wheat Country Motors in Regina before representing Saskatchewan at international events in New Zealand and Japan. He later went onto coaching, helping capture Western Canadian Championships in 1994 and 2002.
Kuffner was also an influential voice at the board table, serving as the Pacers’ vice president for 13 years and is now the team’s president. He also helped create, develop and improve Pacers Park, which features 14 baseball diamonds, two clubhouses, a maintenance building and infrastructure capable of hosting grand-scale tournaments and events.
Barry Martin (Wiseton)
With a population under 100, the village of Wiseton sits just southeast of Rosetown and is home to one of Saskatchewan’s biggest baseball boosters.
Barry Martin started playing senior baseball with the hometown 49ers before becoming their coach in 1979, helping win several championships over the years.
A talented centrefielder who doubled as the local diamond caretaker, Martin also coached with the Elrose Acres and served with the local Lions Club for more than four decades in a variety of roles.
Archie Sanderson (Avonlea)
The youngest of seven children, Archie Sanderson grew up playing baseball at Sanderson School, which was named after his father, Herb.
In the 1930s, Sanderson School joined three others to form a league. After World War II, Archie started playing with Avonlea of the Southern Baseball League, where he also served as the team’s manager for a year.
From 1956-1958, Sanderson suited up with the Wilcox Notre Dame Hounds as a third baseman. The league all-star later retired from baseball to coach minor ball and hockey while serving on as executive for the Avonlea Curling and Skating Club.
Remembered as a joy and a friend to those around him, Sanderson passed away in 2007 at the age of 80.
Dr. Craig Weran (Meadow Lake)
Born in North Battleford and raised across Saskatchewan’s Midwest, Dr. Craig Weran is said to have “played some mean baseball” despite being smaller in stature.
He started gaining notoriety with the North Battleford Junior Beavers before making his way to the Alberta Junior Baseball League and then back to the North Sask River Baseball League.
Weran also played for the Saskatoon Outlaws of the Saskatoon Senior Baseball League before settling into Meadow Lake where he set up his chiropractic practice. He still plays in twilight baseball tournaments with the Saskatoon Sportsmen, Regina Drifters and Regina Red Dogs, and became a certified umpire in 2024.
Glen Winkler (Meadow Lake)
Who knew a hamburger with raw onions could help power a baseball player to hit three home runs in a game? That’s what Glen Winkler credited when he accomplished the feat early in his career.
Originally from Lang, Winkler later moved to Davidson where he became an umpire, serving in other 1,000 games.
He has also been very involved in the baseball community, helping build diamonds in Blaine Lake and Meadow Lake. In the latter community, Winkler and co-coach Wayne Pike formed a new team that won a championship in its first league tournament. The Meadow Lake White Sox became a powerhouse winning several championship over the year while the local ball scene boasts over 350 registrants every summer.
Troy Winterhalt (Lloydminster)
A long-time cornerstone of the North Sask River Baseball League, there isn’t much Troy Winterhalt hasn’t done in the circuit.
He threw a complete-game one-hitter in his last year of minor ball, then became the ace of the hometown Wilkie Brewers in 1997-1998, winning league and provincial titles in his second season.
Winterhalt then moved to Lloydminster, where he spent 22 seasons with the Meridian Twins. In all, he helped his teams win 12 NSRBL championships and seven provincial titles while collecting multiple team awards and all-star selections.
Lumsden Cubs (1971)
A member of the Qu’Appelle Valey Baseball League, the Lumsden Cubs entered the Saskatchewan Baseball Association in 1971, winning a provincial title in their first season.
The crowds grew to nearly 4,000 per game during the postseason as the Cubs swept Kipling, edged Colonsay, and knocked off Govan in the final.
While many of the players have passed away since then, those who saw the Cubs still talk about the championship series and the talent that was on display.
North Battleford Junior Beavers (1971)
Led by well-known coach Rob Colliar, the North Battleford Junior Beavers had high expectations heading into 1971.
After winning the 18U provincial championship three years earlier, the Beavers were set to host the Canadian Junior Championships, where they ultimately captured bronze after losing to Quebec in the semis.
The roster included some multi-sport athletes like future Stanley Cup champion Bob Bourne and Pittsburgh Penguin draft pick Bernie Lukowich, as well as a pair of Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Famers in Hugh McIvor and Brian Lampitt. A future North Battleford mayor, Ray Boyes, also played on the ’71 Beavers.
Unity Cardinals (1960s)
Another member of the Qu’Appelle Valley Baseball League, the Unity Cardinals were a force to be reckoned with every year during the 1960s.
Nearly 4,000 fans made their way to games regularly to see the talent on display.
Flaman Family (Vibank)
The baseball community in Vibank is thriving, thanks in large part to the work done by the Flaman family.
Chris was a promoter and builder of modern sports facilities; Keith was a long-time player and coach; Terry also played and coached before umpiring and volunteering; Brian played and coached; Rick was involved in the game in several capacities; and Elaine Lang played fastball then volunteered tirelessly to fundraise and support her teams.
Each made sure their children, families and friends were all involved in the game as well, and are referred to as a “force to be reckoned with” for their love of baseball.
READ MORE: SportsCage.com’s coverage of the Class of 2026
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