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CTV News
25 minutes ago
- CTV News
Saskatoon Berries ready for playoffs after record breaking season
WATCH: The Saskatoon Berries have enjoyed an impressive regular season that will go down in the history books. WATCH: The Saskatoon Berries have enjoyed an impressive regular season that will go down in the history books. The Saskatoon Berries are feeling confident as they head into playoffs after their record-breaking regular season. 'It was a little bit of a struggle leading up to it, lost two games and that one was getting close to coming down to the wire. But standing there kind of gave me the opportunity to walk it off and took that opportunity and broke a record,' Mason Roell told CTV regarding his grand slam walk off on Sunday. Roell's impressive hit puts the Berries at 46 regular season wins, which is a new record for the Western Canadian Baseball League. 'What's great about this team is that all the guys are really close and we're good friends with each other, so we're always happy when anyone else succeeds [we] get to cheer each other on and I think that's kind of just a sentiment to the team,' Roell said. The Berries have been on a roll for most of the season, only slowing down towards the end of the regular season after two consecutive losses to the Regina Red Sox. 'It was almost like a monkey off the shoulders. We tied and then lost a couple games like 'oh, we need to go get this win'. And then, when we did it, it was kind of a relief. And then just focus on playoffs now instead of the regular season,' first baseman Cory Wouters said. Playoffs begin on Wednesday, with the Berries hosting the Moose Jaw Miller Express. The team's assistant coach Chance Wheatley shared that while the team is remaining focused and expecting a tough battle against Moose Jaw, he is feeling good going into playoffs. 'We got a ton of confidence. And we're set up pretty well for the playoffs here, health wise and all that. So I think we're where we want to be, and we're excited to get rolling with it,' Wheatley said. This 46-9 season comes only two years after the Berries' inception. Outfielder Ethan Murdoch credits much of the team's success to an enthusiastic and supportive community. 'The organization is really well run, top to take great care of us. And at the end of the day, the fans support, too, is just a huge, positive, we love playing here. We love playing at home. We played really well at home this year,' Murdoch said. Murdoch says the fan turnouts have been a huge contributor to the team's success. With home field advantage going into playoffs, the Berries are ready to give their fans all they've got in the hopes of bringing the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy home to Saskatoon. 'Two-thousand people out here and it's really loud and it makes for a fun environment. When you play every day in the summer, [it] gets a little long. But it makes it feel a little easier when you have all these people out here and it's loud,' Murdoch said.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Veteran quarterbacks Collaros, Adams poised to return to their respective teams
The Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers should have their offensive leaders back when they square off Saturday night at McMahon Stadium. Calgary starter Vernon Adams Jr. (head) was a full participant in practice Tuesday after missing the Stampeders' 31-11 loss to Ottawa last week. Ditto for veteran Bombers quarterback Zack Collaros (neck) after Chris Streveler got the start in Winnipeg's 40-31 win over Toronto on Friday night. This will mark the third meeting of the season between the West Division rivals, with Calgary (5-3) having won the previous two contests. The Stampeders are looking for their first series sweep of the Blue Bombers (4-3) since 2016. Calgary is also chasing its first victory in three games after consecutive losses to Montreal and Ottawa. Canadian receiver Clark Barnes (ankle) was a full participant in practice for the Stamps and could be available but Damien Alford (hamstring) was limited. Calgary has been solid 3-0 within its division while Winnipeg is 3-2. But since 2022 the Bombers are 7-3 versus the Stampeders, with Collaros sporting a 10-8 career record against them. What's more, veteran offensive lineman Stanley Bryant (ankle) was a full participant in practice Tuesday for the Bombers. Calgary will also have to be wary of Bombers returner Trey Vaval, who last week became the first Winnipeg player to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in the same game. Also, defensive lineman Willie Jefferson had four pass knockdowns, one short of the league record, and has 85 overall, good for third in CFL history behind Adrion Smith (90) and Eddie Davis (111). Last week's win halted a three-game losing streak for Winnipeg. Calgary's defence has been solid, having allowed just 18.8 offensive points per game and 11 offensive touchdowns — both league lows. Stampeders receiver Dominique Rhymes has scored touchdowns in each of his past three games. Facing Winnipeg has agreed with Adams Jr., who has thrown for 489 yards and five touchdowns in the previous two matchups. Adams Jr. has a career 6-3 record against the Bombers. Pick: Calgary. --- B.C. Lions versus Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Thursday night) At Hamilton, the Ticats (6-2) chase a seventh straight victory and second in as many meetings with B.C. (3-5). CFL passing leader Bo Levi Mitchell had 389 yards passing with three TDs in a 37-33 win over the Lions at B.C. Place Stadium on July 27. Kiondre Smith had 14 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns in that contest. Lions running back James Butler ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns against his former team and comes in as the CFL's leading rusher with 619 yards (5.5-yard average) and five touchdowns. The Lions average a league-best 5.7 yards per rush while the Ticats allow a CFL-high 5.4 yards per carry. B.C. also comes off the bye week — its last contest being the loss to the Ticats — and has won its last two games in Hamilton. Pick: B.C. --- Edmonton Elks versus Montreal Alouettes (Friday night) At Montreal, McLeod Bethel-Thompson of the Alouettes (6-2) and Cody Fajardo of Edmonton (1-6) face their former teams for the first time since being dealt for each other this winter. Bethel-Thompson is 1-2 versus Edmonton but Tyler Snead had 14 catches for 191 yards in his last two games for the Alouettes. Fajardo, who led the Als to the '23 Grey Cup, is 4-1 all-time versus the East Division squad. In his two starts this season, Fajardo has completed 79.3 per cent of his passes for 603 yards with three TDs and an interception. Pick: Edmonton. --- Ottawa Redblacks versus Toronto Argonauts (Saturday afternoon) At Toronto, the Argos (2-6) look to continue their mastery of the Redblacks (2-6), having won 19 of the previous 25 matchups since Ottawa entered the CFL in 2014. Starter Nick Arbuckle is second overall in passing yards (2,334) and TDs (13) but the Argos have allowed a league-high 23 sacks. Ottawa starter Dru Brown threw for 225 yards and two TDs in last week's win over Calgary with veteran receiver Eugene Lewis registering five catches for 110 yards, his 20th career 100-yard receiving performance. The Redblacks' defence did its part with three interceptions. The Argos are 1-3 within the East Division while Ottawa is 0-4. Pick: Toronto. Last week: 3-1. Overall: 21-14. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Calgary Stampeders in CFL's Week 10: QB Vernon Adams Jr. returns, as do Bombers
Article content Clutch receiver Clark Barnes (ankle) — an underrated player in the passing game — is back practising fully with the offence. Article content And fellow pass-catchers Jalen Philpot (hamstring) and Damien Alford (hamstring) have both been limited participants in sessions. Article content Also limited in practice has been veteran receiver Tevin Jones, another important key to the offensive cog, after he left last week's affair with a hip injury. Article content If any two of the above are unable to return to face the Blue Bombers, the Stamps are likely to return to CFL rookies Daylen Baldwin and Vyshonne Janusas, who caught three and two passes respectively, in their debuts last week. Article content 'Yeah, adversity builds character, and it shows character,' said Adams, when asked about the performance of the two newbies in the nation's capital. 'A lot of these young guys stepped up, and they did what they can do to help the team out. Article content 'And so we've just got to keep taking those steps, little by little. We've got to keep bringing these young guys along with us to make sure they're ready for anything in the future and things like that. Article content Article content Also back practising fully for the Stamps are RB Eno Benjamin (load management), LB Kelechi Anyalebechi (foot) and DB Jackson Sombach (hamstring). Article content 'Yeah, I'd say we had a good chunk of the guys back practising — it looked like — full (Monday),' added Dickenson. 'Now, how do they respond after that? We'll see. Some guys we've held out, as well, that we think can play, but we'll have a better beat on that (throughout the week), and we'll see how they react.' Article content What do the Bombers bring to McMahon? Article content After starting out of the blocks 3-0, the Blue Bombers were stunned twice in three weeks by the upstart Stampeders — 37-16 in the Stampede Bowl, and 41-20 in the rematch in Manitoba. Article content Those losses made up the majority of a three-game skid for the defending West Division champions, which they halted last week in a 40-31 takedown of the visiting Toronto Argonauts (2-6). Article content That victory came without QB Zach Collaros in the lineup, as veteran backup Chris Streveler managed the day with 17-of-21 for 173 yards — despite throwing three INTs — in what was a run-heavy effort by the victors. Article content Article content But Collaros is expected to return to run the show for the Bombers against the Stampeders, with head coach Mike O'Shea telling reporters in Winnipeg the future hall-of-famer is 'trending towards playing.' Article content Remember that the QB was knocked out of the second game against the Stampeders in mid-July on a heavy hit laid on him by defensive lineman Clarence Hicks. Article content Eight-time CFL all-star offensive lineman Stanley Bryant is possible after missing the last few games with an ankle injury. Article content Article content Regardless of who lines up Saturday for the Bombers, the Stamps insist they'll be ready. Article content Not only does Week 10 offer a few more days between games compared to previous weeks, allowing the Red and White a longer rest after their first two-loss run of the schedule, but the extra time off gave them an added day of practice to prepare for the affair. Article content 'We've played Winnipeg twice already,' Dickenson said. 'Not to say that we don't need to do different things and do some things to scheme them, but (the extra day) was more about ourselves and work on ourselves — and not even really about plays. It was about techniques and trying to get better at little, small skills.
