McFarland: Saskatchewan unveils 16U Girls roster for Canada Summer Games
Baseball Saskatchewan recently announced its 16U Girls Canada Summer Games roster. Photo: Baseball Saskatchewan
*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on June 27, 2025. You can read it here.
June 29, 2025
By Joe McFarland
Saskatchewan Dugout Stories
It’s a dream come true for girls across Canada wanting to showcase their skills on a national stage.
For the first time ever, female baseball has been added to the Canada Summer Games, with the debut coming August 18-24 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Every provincial body has been working towards this summer since the initial announcement was made back in 2022, and the rosters are starting to take shape.
Led by head coach Tyson Black, Baseball Sask announced its 13-athlete roster on June 25.
Many of the athletes, like Regina’s Victoria Bateman, have represented their province before, and are looking forward to doing it again.
“Honestly, just pure excitement,” she told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “It’s pretty awesome to be able to compete at the Canada Summer Games – it’s like a mini-Olympics.”
The announcement came during Baseball Canada’s first National Girls in Baseball Week, launching more awareness and interest in the game from coast to coast.
GETTING A BIGGER STAGE
A lot of hard work went into the eventual announcement about female baseball being included in the Canada Summer Games.
Baseball Canada’s 10 member provinces have spent years tried to increase the opportunities being provided to athletes.
The door really opened in 2019 when, for the first time ever, the 16U Girls Invitational tournament featured entries from every province.
To go along with the 21U and Open categories as well as the Western Canada 14U event, adding a spot in the Canada Summer Games made sense on many levels.
“The addition of female baseball to a prestigious event like the Canada Games will certainly raise the profile of the sport, aid in the development and growth of female baseball, and enhance the athlete experience of preparing for and competing in a major, multi-sport games,” Baseball Canada CEO Jason Dickson said in an October 2024 news release.
He added it was a credit to the provincial executives, staff and local baseball volunteers for making it happen.
GETTING THE CALL
Another contributing factor for the addition was the growing talent pool of girls playing the game.
Baseball Sask has been at the forefront of that growth, which was on display during a banner 2024 season. The program came away with a silver medal at the 21U Women’s Championships in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and fourth-place finishes at the other three major national tournaments.
The idea of being part of the Canada Summer Games wasn’t lost on many of the players, who have grown together with the provincial teams.
Pitcher and third base player Camden Suchan says they have shown they can play with the bigger provinces.
“This is my third year on the 16U roster and knowing we get to compete in the Games was just a whole other level of accomplishment,” said the Humbolt product.
“I’m just glad to be able to live this experience with my teammates and friends, and play the game I love.”
That sentiment is echoed by fellow Baseball Sask veteran Makenna Dobrowolsky, who is now into her fourth season with the 16U squad.
“Being able to rep the green-and-gold again this year is so special to me,” the Saskatoon-born pitcher and infielder said. “Saskatchewan is a team that brings energy, passion and competition – and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
KEYS TO VICTORY
Charged with heading up the Saskatchewan contingent is Black, who is also the program’s sport development coordinator.
After solid showings in recent years, he says there’s no reason for them to not replicate that success again this summer as the group, for the most part, is a year older and wiser.
“We have been able to rely on strong pitching and defence the past couple of years and are returning most of last year’s group with the addition of a few strong first-year players,” said the Yorkton native.
“I think the key to success this year will be getting the bats going early in the week and finding a way to produce more runs.”
Suchan agrees that the team’s strong suit will once again be pitching.
“Our defence has even come a long way from winter training until now,” she said. “I really do think we can play well and stick in there with some of the top teams, so I can’t wait to see the outcome this summer.”
Among the key additions to the 16U team this year will be Clavet’s Ava Hill, who is the reigning Baseball Sask 14U Player of the Year.
MORE THAN THE GAMES
With it being a multi-sport event, the debut of female baseball at the Canada Summer Games also gives the athletes an opportunity to play in front of non-baseball crowds.
They will also be living in an athlete’s village at Memorial University, which isn’t something they usually see in baseball-only tournaments.
Black says it will be unlike anything many of the athletes have seen, so he wants to make sure they enjoy the experience.
“We hope they can make this a memorable experience that they won’t forget,” said the Yorkton native. “I also want them to understand that they are making history in girls’ baseball and that they are proud to be the first female Saskatchewan athletes to compete in a baseball event at the Canada Summer Games.”
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Listen to the special Alberta Dugout Stories podcast dedicated to National Girls in Baseball Week here.
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With school over now, Bateman says her attention has turned completely to baseball, and she can’t help but think about what lies ahead in mid-August.
The top defensive player at the 2023 Western National tournament and Baseball Sask’s 14U Player of the Year is also aware of the influence she and her teammates can have on future generations of ball players in Saskatchewan and across Canada.
“Definitely going to enjoy the moment,” she said. “Just showing up, showing what we got, and trying to inspire others.”
Saskatchewan opens up the Canada Summer Games against Manitoba on Aug. 19 before dates with Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The medal games are scheduled for Aug. 24.