CANORA - Some of us may still be concerned about the possibility of freaky late March blizzards, but ball season is rapidly approaching.
The Canora Minor Ball Association is looking forward to a busy season for both baseball and girls softball, according to newly elected president Travis Mentanko.
"We had another successful season last year with 108 registrations in baseball (seven teams), and 53 registrations in softball (five teams),” reported Mentanko at the CMBA annual general meeting on Feb. 25. “We are projecting similar numbers this season, possibly more with adding a U9 category for softball."
Brigitte Herriges, secretary/webmaster, said the new category for younger softball players is an effort to build the softball program long-term by “getting girls interested in the sport at a younger age.
“Consistent with previous seasons, the CMBA will reimburse the costs for coaching clinics and umpire clinics for those coaching or umpiring for the CMBA. Please email the CMBA at [email protected] if you have any questions or visit our website at www.canoraminorball.com.”
Herriges said the CMBA was pleased with the number of player registrations and volunteers coming forward to coach, manage, and join the executive for the 2024 season.
“We had a successful season with the 18U and 13U Canora Reds baseball teams attending provincials and one U13 Canora Reds softball team attending provincials. We also had several Canora players join provincial teams out of Yorkton and the 11U East Central Expos team made up of players from Preeceville, Kamsack, Sturgis, and Canora.”
The hope is that even more teams will want to attend provincials this season, along with the possibility of hosting provincials in Canora.
“Additionally, our fundraising committee worked hard and raised over $12,000 between our booze raffle, raffle table, and meat fundraiser,” said Herriges. “This was not an easy job, but our committee and families were amazing at fulfilling all of their duties!
The following are the age group projections for the 2025 season:
Baseball:
1) Jr. Rally Cap – approximately 20 players (two or three teams) - same as last year
2) Sr. Rally Cap - approximately 20 players (two or three teams) - same as last year
3) 11U - approximately 15 players - similar to last year
4) 13U - approximately 15 players - decrease from last year
5) 15U - approximately nine players - decrease from last year
6) 18U - approximately 10 players - decrease from last year
Softball:
NEW - U9 category - hope to get nine registrations
1) U11 - approximately 10 - similar to last season
2) U13 - approximately 14 - decrease from last season
3) U15 - approximately 20 - decrease from last season
4) U17 - approximately 15 - similar to last season
5) U19 - approximately three players (plan would be to combine U17/U19 age groups) - one registration in U19 last season
Registration for the 2025 season opened on Feb. 18.
“It is important for players to register early to ensure they get on a team as well as to assist us with ensuring we have enough volunteers for coaches and managers,” said Herriges. “We are continuing to endorse a hard deadline of April 1, 2025 so that we can prepare for the short season accordingly. We will not be taking registrations after this deadline unless it is absolutely necessary (i.e., need more players to make a team) so families are urged to register early. This will allow us time to get older players practicing indoors and to have teams set before the scheduling meetings for both baseball and softball.”
Both players and umpires will have the opportunity to work on their “game” during upcoming clinics in Canora:
Player Clinics:
1) Softball Fever Camp (Softball Saskatchewan Clinic)- Saturday, May 10 (this is an open clinic for CMBA softball members and non-CMBA members) registration will be set up on RAMP. More details to come.
2) Rally Cap Initiation Camp - Saturday, May 24 (this is a closed clinic for CMBA rally cap players, coaches, parents and board members only). Nolan Bracken of Baseball Sask will be coming to demonstrate how to set up practice sessions and games as well as demonstrate skills and games to play at the rally cap level.
3) Inside Pitch - Sunday, May 25, 2025 (this is an open clinic for all CMBA and non-CMBA baseball players) - players will register directly through Inside Pitch. More details to come soon.
Umpire Clinics:
1) No Canora softball umpire clinic this year. Yorkton is hosting a clinic on Saturday, April 26.
2) Baseball Clinic - CMBA has applied to host, but they are awaiting confirmation if Canora has been selected as a host community.
For fundraising, The CMBA is planning a raffle draw this year with a focus on "summer fun" prize options.
At the AGM, the executive was put in place for the 2025 season, with a mixture of new and returning members.
President: Travis Mentanko (new)
Vice President: Parker Rice (returning)
Treasurers: Shimonay Danyluk (new)
Secretary/Webmaster: Brigitte Herriges (returning)
Registrar: Jill Craig (returning)
Softball Equipment Manager: Chris Simon (returning)
Baseball Equipment Manager: Blare Stewart (returning)
Umpire Co-ordinator: Chris Simon (new)
Fundraising Co-ordinator: Jen Matychuk & Jocelyn Weinbender (returning)
Fundraising Committee Members: Kylee Toffan, Chrystal Gerein, and Tamara Slowski (all new)
There are still a number of openings for coaches and managers
Baseball:
Jr Rally Cap – have one head coach, one assistant coach (need one head coach, two to four assistant coaches)
Sr. Rally Cap – have one assistant coach (need two or three head coaches and two or three assistant coaches)
11U – have two head coaches, one assistant coach
13U – have one head coach (need one or two assistant coaches)
15U – have two head coaches, one assistant coach
18U – have none (need one head coach and assistant coaches)
Softball:
U9 – have none (need one head coach and one or two assistant coaches)
U11 – have one head coach (need one or two assistant coaches)
U13 – have one head coach, one assistant coach
U15 – have none (need one head coach and one or two assistant coaches)
U17/U19 – have assistant coaches (need one head coach)
Team Managers:
CMBA has only received applications for 13U baseball and U17 softball, need team managers in all other age categories for baseball and softball in 11U and up.
Herriges said the plan is to start indoor training by mid-April and be outdoors by early May, weather permitting.
Reds merchandise
The online store is open until April 1, 2025 to ensure clothing is in before the season starts. To purchase, go to Canora Reds 2025 | Hometown Cycle & Sports | powered by OrderMyGear
There will be no caution fees this season. If uniforms are not returned at the end of the season, an invoice will be sent to families.
Uniforms/Pants:
All 11U and up baseball players are required to purchase/have their own white baseball pants.
All U11 and up softball players are required to purchase/have their own black ball pants.
CMBA will not be providing grey softball pants moving forward.
Herriges said plans are underway for Canora Minor Ball Day, with the date to be announced.
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