Fitzpatrick: Menard leads East to 10-3 win over West in WCBL All-Star Game

Saskatoon Berries slugger Ethan Menard homered for the East to help them to a 10-3 rain-shortened win over the West in the 2025 Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game at Seaman Stadium on Saturday. Photo: Ian Wilson, Alberta Dugout Stories

July 19, 2025

By Trevor Fitzpatrick

Canadian Baseball Network

Okotoks, Alta. - Rain forced the umpires to call the game after only six innings, but that was all that the East All-Stars needed to reach double digits in a 10-3 win over the West in the 2025 WCBL All-Star game at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta. on Saturday night.

Saskatoon Berries slugger Ethan Menard led the offensive onslaught with a solo home run to dead-centre field in the top of the sixth. It was the only long-ball hit during the game, before 5,652 fans.

He was dubbed the game’s MVP after his 1-for-4 outing.

“They were throwing me off-speed all game,” explained Menard, “I was out in front, out in front… then he gave me that hanger again and I tried to keep it up the middle.”

He certainly accomplished that, as the ball sailed over the centre field wall – a longer shot than most of the hacks in the home run derby earlier in the day.

Saskatoon Berries slugger Ethan Menard hit the only home run during the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game on Saturday. He also belted seven in the home run derby. Photo: Saskatoon Berries

Menard was one of the 12 representatives in that derby but didn’t qualify for the championship round. He launched seven compared to Ian Heck’s 11, who went on to face eventual champion Matt Rhoades in the final.

Fellow RBI contributors for the East All-Stars included:

-Ian Heck of the Weyburn Beavers who notched an RBI double in the top of the fourth.

-Moose Jaw Express member William Edwards who scored Heck right after with a single.

-Bailyn Sorensen joined Menard as a fellow Saskatoon player on the scoresheet with a tw-run RBI double in the sixth.

-Weyburn hitters struck again as Noah Brooks (Langley, BC) doubled in two more runs in the sixth.

As for the west, Brennan McTavish (Lethbridge, Alta.) represented the Lethbridge Bulls with an RBI walk in the bottom of the second, and Fort McMurray Giant Elijah Olaybol (Langley, BC) had an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.

The rest of the runs that came across the plate were either on errors or wild pitches.

Pitching standouts included:

-Fort McMurray Giant Ashe Ammerlaan who tossed one inning while allowing no runs and striking out two.

-From the Sylvan Lake Gulls, Matthew Mackenzie (Vaughan, N.S.) who pitched one scoreless inning on only 12 pitches.

-Luis Diaz notched a strikeout and only allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of work representing the Medicine Hat Mavericks.

Despite the game being an exhibition, the flames of competition were high as is to be expected when the best players from across the league assemble.

“The East always has the odds against them,” said Menard, “Whether it’s not having as much money or not having as nice fields. We love coming out here and representing all of Saskatchewan (and Medicine Hat) and give it to the West.”

The East and West all-stars shake hands after the WCBL All-Star Game was called after six innings on Saturday night due to rain. Photo: Ian Wilson, Alberta Dugout Stories

Despite the poor conditions, fans came out and stayed out in droves to (quite literally) soak in the game. The event went off without a hitch thanks to the hardworking Dawgs staff and grounds crew.

It was a great sendoff for what may be the last WCBL All-Star game to be held in Okotoks for a while. After hosting for the last four years straight, Menard’s Saskatoon Berries have been granted hosting privileges for 2026.

Describing the day, Menard said, “Couldn’t ask for anything better. It was a great day for guys who normally have to go against each other to cheer each other on and have one common goal. Getting to be amongst the guys that work hard every day, it’s fun, real fun.”