Saskatoon franchise to join WCBL in 2024
By JAMES TUBB on March 30, 2023.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb The Western Canadian Baseball League has announced the return of a former club. In a press conference Wednesday, the WCBL announced collegiate summer baseball will return to Saskatoon in the summer of 2024. The organization will be owned by Sask Entertainment Group which also runs the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and Saskatoon Rush Lacrosse. Saskatoon had a team from 2002-2014 in the league previously known as the Western Major Baseball League, called the Yellow Jackets. The expansion team will be known as the Saskatoon Baseball Club until a new name is determined with help from the public. “We believe it’s been too long since Saskatoon has had a WCBL team. We feel it’s super important for the baseball community and the City of Saskatoon to have somewhere to go on a beautiful summer evening,” said Steve Hildebrand, president of the Saskatoon Baseball Club. They will play on Cairns Field at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, which has an approximate capacity of 2,200 fans. Medicine Hat Mavericks owner and general manager Greg Morrison says it’s an exciting time for the league. “The growth in the league with stadiums being improved or new stadiums, and now Saskatoon, when I joined the league in 2009 they had the Yellow Jackets, so it warms my heart they’re back in the league,” Morrison said. “I know the ownership group, you can imagine the breath of knowledge of the Lacrosse League, the WHL, I’m just personally really excited to learn from them and see how the league shakes out.” The WCBL’s Board of Governors voted unanimously in favour of approving the new team. 10-9
