Any athlete will tell you about what an honour it is to represent your home province at a major national championship.
Not many can tell you about what it’s like to do it at three tournaments in a summer.
Such was the case for Criseyde Borthwick as she suited up for Team Saskatchewan at the Baseball Canada 16U, 19U and Women’s Championships in 2026.
The 17-year-old didn’t do it, especially in the older age brackets, just for the experience: she came to play.
Borthwick’s respective performances not only helped her teams win – including the bronze at the 19U event in Saskatoon – but garnered the recognition of Baseball Sask’s Female Player of the Year.
“It felt amazing to have all the hard work, dedication, and time I put into baseball recognized,” she said proudly after the Baseball Sask Awards banquet on Oct. 24.
“It reminded me that all the challenges and sacrifices along the way are definitely worth it.”
Borthwick continues to build an impressive baseball resume, although she has some other things on her mind before the 2027 season hits the diamond.
INSPIRED BY DAD
Borthwick heaps a lot of praise on her dad, Corey, for getting her into sports and keeping her busy throughout her athletic career.
Having been involved in the game for a couple of decades, he’s been coaching his daughter since she was four.
With a passion for the game himself, he wasn’t content on having her play just softball.
“Her confidence has grown a lot, that has given her a more relaxed feeling out at the ball field,” Corey told the Prince Albert Daily Herald. “She’s very smart, she’s very aware of the game and all the different aspects of the game.”
Playing mostly catcher and first base, Borthwick’s game evolved to eventually include pitching as well, opening some doors to play for provincial teams.
It fueled her passion for baseball further as she was finally able to surround herself with athletes who have similar stories.
“I love being with my teammates and being with other girls who also enjoy doing the same thing as me because I never grew up playing on girls’ teams,” she said. “It was definitely something that made me want to go further in baseball.”
SENSATIONAL SUMMER GAMES
Borthwick really burst onto the scene with Baseball Sask during the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
She went 9-for-21 with seven singles, two doubles, three runs batted in and six stolen bases in six games as Saskatchewan claimed fifth place.
The utility player wishes others could play in the Summer Games as it allows you to meet athletes from other provinces and other sports, giving you an appreciation for the work they put in as well.
“It was just such a cool experience and it made me realize that I love the sport,” Borthwick said. “It was something that I never thought I could do because girls in baseball wasn’t super-big, but I definitely thought (after the tournament) that maybe I have a future with this.”
Not only did it open her eyes to what is possible, but it also made sure that she was going to get an invite to represent Baseball Sask again in 2026.
JET-SETTING JULY
When Baseball Sask unveiled its female rosters for national championships in early-July, Borthwick was among a handful – including Paisley McHarg, Makenna Dowrowolsky and Beth Sarauer – to be on three teams.
“I love being able to compete at such a high level and learn from every game,” she said.
The first event was the Women’s Open Nationals in Winnipeg, where she went 3-for-15 at the plate with four runs batted in over four games, while striking out three in five innings pitched against Quebec Powder Blue.
Her performances continued to improve as the summer went on, including the 19U nationals in Saskatoon, where she went 2-for-13 with two RBI and four runs scored while striking out five in a win over Alberta.
More importantly, Borthwick helped Team Sask claim the bronze medal.
“It was definitely a good experience, especially having family and friends there supporting and watching,” she said.
Borthwick saved her best performance for last though, as she picked up three hits in four games at the 16U Nationals in Moncton, New Brunswick.
The highlight of her tournament was hitting a home run and driving in six runs in an 18-17 loss to Quebec to round out the round-robin.
She also struck out eight in 5.1 innings of work on the mound in a matchup against B.C.
HOLDING COURT
After a busier-than-usual summer at the ballpark, Borthwick was excited to slow things down a little bit heading into the offseason.
Although her definition of “slowing down” is simply focusing on another sport of interest: basketball.
A shooting guard at Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert, she’s getting some attention from post-secondary institutes as she heads towards graduation in a few months.
Borthwick admits basketball is her main sport, but isn’t looking to hang up her cleats and glove any time soon.
She would love to return to Baseball Sask for the 19U Women’s Nationals, which are once again being held in Saskatoon, and will take advantage of any other opportunities that come her way in the months ahead.
A big goal of hers would be to get a call from Baseball Canada’s Women’s National Team.
“That would be very cool,” Borthwick said. “That would make a lot of people around me proud and it’s definitely something I’ve dreamed about since I was younger.”
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