Beavers open season, split games

The Weyburn Beavers opened the 2023 season hosting the Regina Red Sox on Thursday evening at Tom Laing Park, dropping the game by a score of 9-1, and went on to split their home-and-home games with Moose Jaw.

Mayor Marcel Roy threw the ceremonial first pitch to kick off the season on Thursday. Ethan Webster was on the mound for seven innings for the Beavers, allowing seven hits and four runs, and getting four strike-outs.

Brayden Murua handled two batters, allowing three hits and four runs and getting two strike-outs; Mason Fichter allowed one run, and Jared Hall was on for one and one-third innings, allowing one hit.

Beavers shortstop Ryan Dauphinee attempted to get the tag on the Regina Red Sox runner, but the runner reached second base before he was able to tag him. The Weyburn Beavers dropped their opening game 9-1.

The Hawkeye Security Weyburn U17 Wild had a great last two weeks winning another two games to now sit atop of the RMSL league with a 7-0 record.

The streak continued this weekend going undefeated at the Sharon Knott Tournament in Regina, going 4-0 and capturing the gold medal Sunday afternoon.

The Wild won the two round robin games Saturday 12-1 versus the Regina Lazers, followed by a 15-1 win over the Regina Royal Reapers.

The exciting moment of game 1 was J’Anne Colbow’s first career homerun with a blast to straight away center field.

On Sunday, the Wild defeated the Swift Current

Sonic 9-0 to advance to the final.

In the final the Wild came out with a big 16-5 win thanks to some great hitting, solid defense and great pitching performances by Prysm Gooding, going four solid innings with the final two being closed out by Beau Chisholm.

With the tournament gold, the Wild have had a solid start to the season going 11-0.

Next action for the Wild was Tuesday, May 30 when they played the Pilot Butte Storm in Regina. They will be attending the Saskatoon Hustler Classic Tournament on June 2-4. Game 1 will be at 8 a.m. on June 2 versus the Saskatoon Phantoms.

The lone Beavers run was scored by catcher Tristan Madison in the sixth inning. All of Regina’s scoring was done in the second inning with four runs, and the eighth inning with five runs.

On Friday evening, the Beavers recorded their first win of the season versus the Moose Jaw Miller Express at home, winning by a score of 3-2, before heading to Moose Jaw on Saturday and losing 11-6.

Brett Paterson was named the winning pitcher for the Beavers, and Jacob Clark was credited with the save. Paterson was on the mound for three innings, and Clark for one, with Owen McConnell the starting pitcher, on the mound for five innings.

McConnell allowed three hits and two runs, and had four strike-outs. Paterson allowed two hits and no runs, and had three strike-outs, while Clark allowed two hits, no runs and one strike-out.

Outfielder Ryan McCarthy had a hit and a run, and third baseman Ryan Muizelaar had two hits and two runs.

In Saturday’s game, Cole

McGregor was the losing pitcher, throwing for four and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and five runs, and getting two strike-outs.

A number of pitchers took turns on the mound, with Jared Hall throwing for an inning, allowing two hits and two runs; Clark threw for two hitters, allowing one hit and four runs; Paterson threw for two hitters and got one strike-out, and Eric Wirun threw for a full inning.

Cale Yuzdepski and Murua each had one RBI, and Trent Lawson had three RBIs in the game.

The Beavers played on Tuesday night, hosting Medicine Hat, and will play them for a second game tonight, May 31, at Tom Laing Park.

They will host Regina on Saturday, June 3 at Tom Laing Park at 2 p.m., and will travel to Moose Jaw on Sunday, June 4 for a road game at Ross Wells Park.

The Weyburn Red Wings have signed head coach and general manager Cody Mapes to a multi-year extension. Mapes is going into his third season as the team’s bench boss, and his fifth year with the team overall after spending two seasons as an assistant coach.

“It’s a privilege to be able to come to the rink every day and work with a great group of people. It’s our belief that we have started to build something special here in Weyburn and I am excited to continue to be part of it.”

In just two years under Mapes, the Red Wings have improved from a 31-point 12th place finish in 2021-22 to a 55-point eighth place finish in 2022-23.

At the college commitment level, Mapes has helped the team immensely. This season saw a total of eight commitments come from the Red Wings including a NCAA Division I commitment for Ty Mason.

Mapes also helped develop two players, Braden Birnie and Drew Kuzma, into NCAA Division I athletes before making the tough decision to trade them to championship contending teams where colleges already had eyes.

Under Mapes’ watch, the following Red Wings have committed to college hockey programs: Ty Mason – Western Michigan – NCAA Div. I; Ryley Morgan – Nipissing University Lakers – USports; Jordan Edwards – Marian University Sabres – NCAA Div. III; Jakob Kalin – Niagara University Purple Eagles – ACHA Div. I; Matt Reidy – Concordia Thunder – ACAC; Jackson Hassman – NAIT Ooks – ACAC; and Mi-Kwan Tallman – Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons – NCAA III.

To put that into perspective, the Wings haven’t had a single college commitment since the 2018-19 season when Tyran Brown committed to NCAA Div. III with Northland College, and Cade Kowalski committed to Ferris State University in NCAA Div. I after a mid-season trade to the Flin Flon Bombers.

During his second year with the team, Mapes led the Red Wings to their first playoff appearance since 2018 as well as the team’s first playoff win since 2016 (excluding survivor series in 2017 and 2018) over a Battlefords North Stars team that only lost two more games on their way to a second place finish at the Centennial Cup.

Canadian Competitive Program Level 3-7 and Xcel Good competitive Airbourne Gymnastics gymnasts from the Weyburn Gymnastics Club attended Provincials on May 12-13 in Saskatoon, with one athlete earning a provincial championship title. The athletes have been competing since February and have been to Humboldt, Regina, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon. Weyburn had a great showing at

Motocross races were held on Sunday at the Weyburn motocross course by the Weyburn Golf Course, held as part of the Saskatchewan Motocross Association series, and the following are results of the local competitors.

In the 50 cc class, 4-6 years old: Max Morrice, seventh; Rhett Betham, 10th. In the 65 cc class, 7-9 years old: Roan Quigley, third.

In the 85 cc class, 7-11 years old: Roman Quigley placed 12th

In the 85cc class, 12-16 years old: Mya Bendickson placed 11th

Ladies A Class: Lauren Puhlmann placed first, and Emily Quigley was second.

Ladies B Class: Mya Bendickson placed fifth.

MX1 Junior: Marcus Quigley finished second.

MX2 Junior: Kent Shumlich placed second; Marcus Quigley, third; Nathan Bendickson, eighth; Lauren Puhlmann, ninth; Logan Puhlmann, 10th, and Emily Quigley placed 16th.

MX3 Junior: Kent Shumlich, second; Marcus Quigley, third; Nathan provincials with many placings and personal bests.

Bendickson, ninth; and Logan Puhlmann, 10th.

MX2 Intermediate: Ryder Zackrisson, first; Dylan Honig, second; Trey Griffin, third; and Connor Bendickson, fifth.

MX3 Intermediate: Ryder Zackrisson won first; Trey Griffin came in second; Dylan Honig placed third; and Connor Bendickson was fourth.

MX 3 Pro: Codie Rouse won second place.

Pro Am: Codie Rouse won second, Trey Griffin placed third, and Dylan Honig was sixth.

Xcel Gold athlete Rachel Keller placed eighth on beam and earned her personal best score of the season.

Airbourne had three new level 3 athletes attend provincials for the first time, Kamryn Dammann, Shay War ren who placed sixth on Vault, and Lexi Heimlick who placed eighth on bars and All Around.

Also in level 3 is Isabelle Cugnet, who placed fifth on bars, eighth on floor and All Around, and earned the bronze medal on beam. Sadie Hodgkin in level 3 earned the bronze medal on vault, bars, and All Around, and got the silver medal on floor.

Airbourne had four athletes in CCP4 and all attended provincials. Avery Fleck placed eighth on vault, fourth on bars, and seventh All Around. Eliza Gall placed eighth All Around and earned the silver medal on bars.

Mackenzie Pulfer placed eighth on bars, sixth on floor, fifth All

Around, and earned the gold medal and title of CCP4 2023 Provincial Beam Champion.

Peyton Lokken competed in the CCP level 7 category.

Airbourne has a Provincial Champion! In CCP4, Sophie Pollock earned her personal best score of the season along with fourth on floor, and the Gold medal on vault and bars, making her the CCP4 2023 Provincial Vault Champion and Provincial Bar Champion; she also earned the Gold medal and title of CCP4 2023 Provincial All Around Champion.

Sophie has done very well this season, earning her first All Around at her first competition of the season back in February. She continued to place well all season earning two fourth place and a second place All Around finishes and 13 medal placings this season.

This is only Sophie’s second year in Level 4 and she continues to improve her skills after competition season along with Airbourne’s other athletes.

The athletes are currently working on new skills for next season but also to show off to their friends and family at the second annual Showcase and Awards Night on Sunday, June 11th at 7 p.m.

The CCP3-8 and Xcel Gold athletes will be performing skills and routines and there will also be a special performance with the CCP1-2 athletes who are done training at the end of May. Following the showcase coaches will be presenting the annual club awards for level 3 and up athletes. Everyone is welcome to come to the Weyburn Gymnastics Club to help support the athletes.

There are two special events coming up for the Weyburn Beavers, including former Blue Jays general manager John Gibbons, speaking at a sportsman dinner on Friday, June 2.

The event will be held at Weyburn Exhibition Hall (Curling Club), with catering by Lowbrow BBQ. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. and supper is at 7 p.m., with the program to follow.

Tickets are $90 per person, or a table for $700, and a VIP table can be had for $1,000.

a

Tickets or information can be found at www.weyburnbeavers.com, or contacting the club by email at weyburnbeaverswmbl@ gmail.com. There will be 50/50 tickets available leading up and during the event, plus there will be a live and silent auction at this fundraiser event.

Then, the Beavers will be the first club in the WCBL to host a tour of the Viterra Kids Camps, with the event coming to Tom Laing Park on Monday, July 3, from 1-3 p.m.

The camp will then tour through the month of July to the other ball parks around the league in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The $15 registration fee includes a Kids Camp admission, Kids Camp t-shirt, and one general admission ticket to a Weyburn Beavers game. Kids aged 5-17 are welcome.