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Global News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Saskatoon Berries star slugger Beck returns to WCBL after standout collegiate season
Walking up to home plate for the first time this Western Canadian Baseball League season, Carter Beck wasn't the only one taken aback by the raucous reaction from Saskatoon Berries fans at Cairns Field on Wednesday. Especially following a conversation with Fort McMurray Giants catcher Solomon Harwood. 'I even had the catcher go, 'Holy that's a lot of claps,'' said Beck. 'I'm like, 'I don't know what to say.'' Finishing out his collegiate season at Indiana State University, the WCBL's reigning Most Outstanding Canadian and Rookie of the Year returned to the Berries on Wednesday for his second season with the team. Ending his night with a pair of hits, four runs and an RBI, Beck provided an immediate punch of offence which didn't come as a surprise to Berries head coach Joe Carnahan. Story continues below advertisement 'He walked his first at-bat and a triple his second at-bat,' said Carnahan. 'So he's kind of just rolling right where he left off.' Beck became a star in Saskatoon in 2024, leading the team with a .374 batting average, while also contributing the 77 hits and 11 home runs which ranked first on the Berries in both categories. Named to the WCBL's first all-star team, Beck also became a household name around the league with his performance at WCBL All-Star weekend in Okotoks, where he finished second in the home run derby and was named All-Star Game MVP. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Compared to last season, it's a much different scenario that Beck is walking into as he helped the Berries win their fifth game in a row 14-6 over the Giants. 2:08 Off-season splash Whitney shoring up Saskatoon Berries rotation in 2025 It's a far cry from the team's 0-5 start to their inaugural season in 2024. Story continues below advertisement 'A complete 360 [degrees] to what we had last year for sure,' said Beck. 'It was getting tense in there trying to figure it out and get it turned around. It's a 5-1 start now, it's really nice to see for the guys and it's going to make meshing a lot easier this year too.' The Carnduff, Sask., product is coming off a wildly successful first season at the NCAA Division I level with the Indiana State Sycamores, leading the team in batting average, hits and RBIs, just as he did in his first season in Saskatoon. That experience facing some of the best pitchers in all of collegiate baseball provided valuable experience for the soon to be 20-year-old, which he hopes will lead to even bigger performances in his WCBL season. 'I learned a lot more about what it takes to be at the highest level,' said Beck. 'Just going out and competing with the best guys every day, it was really a lot of fun and I think it made me a lot better over the year too.' Counting on second-year players like Beck to help drive the bus when it comes to leadership this summer, Carnahan added Beck has been the model of consistency since the day he arrived to the team in May of 2024. 'He comes to the park the same every single day,' said Carnahan. 'That's the mentality we want to have, just stay level every single day and be the same person every day. It's nice to have it in a leadership role from him and just trickle down on everybody.' Story continues below advertisement The Berries' first true star in franchise history, Cairns Field has seen more and more number 20 jerseys dotting the stands with his first year play resonating with Saskatoon supporters. Now the work begins, with the Berries this summer to repay that support and chase a WCBL title with one game under his belt. 'It's so cool to see that,' said Beck. 'It's what keeps me going when I don't want to go sometimes. Just seeing all the fans back in Saskatchewan who just love to tag along, it's almost surreal to see how much people are invested in what I'm doing.' Rolling to begin the season with a 5-1 record, the Berries will go for a sixth consecutive win on Friday night with a road tilt against the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
CTV News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Roughriders announce 2025 Plaza of Honour inductees
Chris best, Alex Smith Sr. and Steve Molnar (posthumous) will be the 2025 inductees in the Saskatchewan Roughriders' Plaza of Honour. The team announced its latest inductees on Monday morning. All three will be formally enshrined in the plaza during a special ceremony at halftime on Sept. 13 when the Riders face the Montreal Alouettes, the team said in a news release. Best was a member of the 2007 and 2013 Grey Cup winning teams. He was part of the offensive line in 2007 that helped quarterback Kerry Joseph win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award that year. Best was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2011. The 2005 fourth overall draft pick played 114 regular season games with the Green and White. Alex Smith Sr. was a key member of the Riders' coaching staff as an assistant coach that helped the team win four West Division titles and the 2007 Grey Cup. Working with the team full-time for 16 seasons, (1997-2012) Smith Sr. is the longest serving coach in franchise history. Smith Sr. coached special teams, running backs and linebackers and was heavily involved with the CFL Draft. Steve Molnar, who died in 2021, will be inducted posthumously in 2025 after being announced as part of the 2024 class. Molnar's induction was pushed back a year due to illness in his family. Known as the fullback who took over for the retiring George Reed in 1976, Molnar played for the Riders from 1969 to 1978 and rushed for 2,549 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught 142 passes for 1,552 yards and two touchdowns. Molnar played in the 1969, 1972 and 1976 Grey Cup games and was named the teams' Most Outstanding Canadian in both 1976 and 1977. In 1976 he led the Riders in rushing yards with 822, a year the team finished top spot in the Western Conference. The Plaza of Honour selection committee, made up of eight members, meets each spring to discuss and vote on the newest inductees. The selection committee includes chair Steve Mazurak, Alan Ford, Cleveland Vann and Wes Cates. As well as journalist and broadcaster Don Hewitt, board member Terri Strunk, former board chair Barry Clarke and team historian Rob Vanstone.
