KAMSACK — After the COVID-19 shutdown, minor ball players at Kamsack were eager to get back onto the field this spring resulting in about 95 youngsters registering to play with Kamsack Minor Ball.
“We began with practices on May 9,” said Chris Leis, president of the Kamsack Minor Ball Association, which is affiliated with Baseball Saskatchewan and its teams play in the Parkland Minor Baseball League.
On the association’s executive committee with Leis are: Cara Shabatoski, vice-president; Niki Ruf, registrar; Catherine Maksymetz, treasurer; Allison Stefiuk, secretary; Bart Hunter, equipment manager, and Chris Nykolaishen and Zach Nahnybida, members at large.
The players are members of six groups, Leis explained. All the groups carry the name of Kamsack Cyclones.
There are two teams of U11 players with Leis coaching Team 1, and Jared Ruf and Devan Shabatoski as the coaches of Team 2. The one team of U13 players are coached by Dustin Erhardt and Logan Hilderman, and coaching the Rally Cap team of players aged six and seven years are Robyn Tataryn, Bryce Erhardt and Zach Nahnybida.
The Learn to Play group of players aged five and six, are coached by Miranda Reikloff-Leis, Tyson Leis and Allison Stefiuk, while coaching the Parents and Tots team of three and four year old players is Chris Nykolaishen.
The two Kamsack U11 teams play against teams in the league’s north division which includes teams from Preeceville, Canora (Red and White), Cote, Keeseekoose, Norquay, Sturgis and Invermay, Leis said. The U13 teams play in a league with several teams including those from Churchbridge, Langenburg, Preeceville and Yorkton among others.
On May 24, the U11 Team 1 played against the Preeceville Aces in Kamsack and the Aces won 5-3, he said, adding that as an incentive for his players, a red jacket is presented following each game to a player that excelled. And each player receiving the jacket gets to write his or her name on the jacket. While Reed Woodworth was the first player to receive the jacket, Emmett Erhardt received the jacket following the May 24 game.
The team will play a total of nine league games before the season ends at the end of June, he said. The U13 team plays a total of eight league games.
All the Kamsack Minor Ball teams will be playing at the Kamsack Sportsground on June 11, which is Minor Ball Day, he said, encouraging all baseball fans and players’ parents and friends to attend. On the grounds will be a canteen operated by the Kamsack air cadet parents.
