The Unity Junior Cardinals beat the Border City Blue Jays 7-2 on July 21, at Unity, Saskatchewan, for their first and, so far, only win of the season. The North Saskatchewan River Baseball League shortened regular season ends Tuesday, August, 4, with the Junior Cardinals taking on the Cardinals at the Cardinal diamond in Unity. Both hometown teams would undoubtedly enjoy having a cheering section!
Below are scenes from the Juniors’ win over the Blue Jays.
Unity Minor Ball hosted the Saskatchewan Bantam Tier 1 and the Mosquito Tier 3 Provincial Baseball Championships July 20, 21 and 22. (If you missed it, don’t worry, Unity is also hosting Midget Tier 1 provincials this weekend, with opening ceremonies at 4 pm July 27. Unity’s Midget Cardinals play at 6 pm July 27, and at noon and 6 pm Saturday July 28. Playoff games and gold medal game are scheduled for Sunday.)
Here are some shots of the opening ceremonies – Ed Ralston threw the first pitch, introduced by daughter-in-law Tara. Troy Snider was MC. Dave Weber played O Canada.
Semifinals now scheduled for 10 am, Sunday August 13:
Wilkie vs Unity North East vs Lloydminster
Championship game: 1 pm Sunday, August 13
At the 2015 Sports of Wall of Inductions held in the Unity Community Centre May 9, three individuals were inducted in the Builder category. To be eligible for induction as a Builder, an individual must have contributed 25 years or more to sports in Unity, Saskatchewan. All three 2015 Builder inductees were well over the 25-year mark in their contributions.
Jim Lee began his involvement with hockey in Unity when his son began playing 34 years ago. After his son ended his playing days, Jim volunteered with the Unity Miners and the Wild Goose Hockey League, helping the team win the senior A and senior AAA provincial championships in the early 1990s. He was also with the team for two league championships, one with the Wild Goose league and the other with the Sask West Hockey League.
The team won the SWHL championship again in 2014 and, although Jim had resigned in 2013, many of the players had started their senior careers under his reign.
Jim was also on the organizing committee when Unity hosted the Allan Cup in 1996.
A contributor to multiple sports in Unity, Saskatchewan, Bob Burns has taught firearms safety in Unity for 54 years, completing his latest class the week before the 2015 induction ceremonies. He was a valued hockey referee for over 30 years, with Unity Minor Hockey, the Wild Goose League and the East Central Alberta League.
With baseball, Bob was on the executive of the Unity Cardinals from 1962 to 1983, assisting to construct the Unity Cardinals facility still in use today. Bob is also a founding member of the Unity Golf Club, starting work in 1952, contributing tirelessly to make the Unity Golf Course the incredible facility it is. He is still an active member of the Unity Golf Club.
The last induction of the evening was Adolph Fischer, who contributed over 30 years to both hockey and ball in Unity. A founding member of the Unity Miners Hockey club in 1978, he served on the executive for many years and was league president in 1992 and in 2009.
Adolph played ball, being a member of at least eight championship teams. He became an umpire in 1985, contributing over 30 years to both baseball and softball as an official. He has umpired at national, Western Canadian and innumerable provincial championships, and at the Saskatchewan Summer Games and International Aboriginal Games. He estimates that he may officiate between 150 and 200 games per season.
Teams inducted into the Unity Sports Wall of Fame May 9, 2015 were:
2007 Peewee Panthers, Provincial C Northern Softball Champions
2009 Senior Cardinals, Provincial A2 Baseball Champions
2011 Peewee Lazers, Provincial B Hockey Champions
2011 Squirt Panthers, Provincial C Northern Softball Champions
2012 Bantam Panthers, Provincial C Softball Champions
2012 Mosquito Cardinals, Provincial A Baseball Champions
2012 Peewee Cardinals, Provincial A2 Baseball Champions
2012 Peewee Panthers, Provincial C Softball Champions
2012 Senior Women’s Provincial Curling Champions
2012 UK Royals, Junior B Provincial Softball Champions, Western Canadian Gold Medallists
2013 Midget Lazers, Provincial A Hockey Champions
2013 Peewee Cardinals, Provincial A Baseball Champions
2013 Senior Cardinals, Provincial A2 Baseball Champions
2013 UK Royals, Junior B Provincial Softball Champions
2014 Mosquito Cardinals, Provincial A2 Baseball Champions
2014 Peewee Cardinals, Provincial AA Baseball Champions
2014 Peewee Panthers,, Provincial B Northern Softball Champions
2014 Squirt Panthers, Provincial B Softball Champions
2014 UK Royals, Junior B Provincial Softball Champions, Western Canadian Silver Medallists
Look for photos of individuals inducted in the Unity Sports Wall of Fame in 2015 later this week. For a complete story on the Wall of Fame and the 2015 inductions , see the May 18th issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald.
Welcome back to all our subscribers and readers. After some time for play and rest and relaxation – and catching up on chores at home or at the lake – the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald staff are back and have a paper ready to print for Monday distribution! In that newspaper you will find:
along with more baseball and softball news and information on the Town of Unity’s residential infill incentive policy and a long-time Unity business downsizing and moving.
An RTM is moved into location on a lot on 5th Avenue East in Unity, SK. Property tax exemptions which apply to new homes on lots in established subdivision – the infill incentive policy – will expire at the end of 2015.
After winning their quarter-final three-game series against the Midwest Expos, the Cardinals advanced to the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League semifinals.
Their first game against the Border City Blue Jays was in Lloydminster July 30, where they lost 5-0, putting them into a must-win position for the second game, played in Unity, Saskatchewan, August 5.
Cory Wildeman started on the pitcher’s mound for the Cardinals, holding the Jays to only one run – in the third – for the first five innings.
On the other side of the ledger, Blake Robertson scored on an RBI by Trace Sperle in the first and Graeme Gieni made it around the bases after being walked in the second.
The score remained 2-1 for the Cardinals until the sixth inning. After the Blue Jays were placing runners on base and there was only one out in the top of the sixth, the Cardinals made a pitching change and Rhett Feser came in to close out the game.
Despite two strikeouts, with defensive errors being made by the Cardinals, the Blue Jays managed to score three runs, putting the home team behind 4-2. A hit by Ryan Greenwald brought Rhett Feser home in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-3 but the Cardinals started the seventh inning in a deficit position.
Feser was able to strike out Scott Willis for the third out in the top of the seventh without the Jays scoring, despite having runners on second and third.
The score remained 4-3 as the Cards went up for their last bat. Scott Greenwald went out on a fly to first.
Cory Wildeman was up next, hitting an in-field ball and going out at first base.
With two out, rookies Blake Robertson and Trace Sperle were up next and both got on base. Blake scored to tie the game and Mark Ralston was up next.
Mark Ralston hit and was safe at first base while a Blue Jays error let Trace run home to make it 5-4 and a win for the Cardinals.
The third and final game in the series goes tonight, August 6, in Lloydminster, with the winner moving on to the NSRBL final against the Lloydminster Twins.
Our great province of Saskatchewan has a very rich baseball history, and in honour of those that contributed to this history, the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will be celebrating the 30th Annual Induction Saturday, August 16, Along with the regular induction day events, extra festivities include a pancake, sausage and coffee breakfast from 8 to 10 am at the Legion Hall, 262-22 Street, sponsored by Battleford Historical Lions Club.
At 10 am, the official unveiling of the “Biggest Bat in Canada”, will take place on the grounds of the museum, 292-22 Street, Battleford, SK.
The Town of Battleford has proclaimed Saturday, August 16th, Saskatchewan Baseball Museum Day!
Join us at this memorable event.
Jane Shury
President/CEO, Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Musuem
With a significant summer storm hitting Saskatchewan at Luseland, Unity and areas July 17, next week’s issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald has a full-length article and plenty of photo coverage on damage done. Not covered in the article is that some rural homes south of Unity did not have power restored until close to noon July 18. In the Town of Unity itself power was out from sometime after 4 pm until 1 am in the morning.
Along with storm coverage, you will find:
Enjoy and be informed!
With another storm threatening July 23, the fence line at the Cardinals’ home playoff game was unusually empty as can be seen in this photo of Francis Kiefer on the pitcher’s mound.
With three Unity SK fastball teams earning provincial titles and the AAA Midget Northwest Prairie Pirates playing a double-header in town, next week’s paper has a “ball game” theme! Look for articles and photos on those games and events, as well as articles on:
Below, the Unity Panther Peewee Girls, happy with a provincial championship, celebrate with the traditional ritual of soaking their coaches!
