The boys of summer are back with one of the province’s most storied baseball clubs. The Marysburg Royals take the field for their 104th consecutive season. The team plays in the Saskatoon Senior Baseball League, and their weekend double headers are a staple of the summer sports season. 

Like a lot of ball teams in the later spring season, rain has delayed the start for the Royals, but they’ve managed to squeak in a few practices and team meetings. Their scheduled home opener is tonight, May 24, in Saskatoon against the Hoppers. The rest of the five team league is expected to get under way this week as well. The Royals season includes league play and a few tournaments prior to the provincial run later in the summer. 

“It’s essentially the same crew,” says long time veteran Curtis Strueby, talking about the roster. “Ethan Rueve has joined us from the 18U ranks. We’ve lost Brett Doepker who has moved away for work, but other than that, it’s mostly the same team.”

Strueby admits Doepkers loss of their pitcher/catcher teammate will leave a vacuum, but it’s one they’ll be able to fill, he feels. Rueve’s youth is welcome given the veteran stance of the rest of the squad, Strueby admits. It could create some player turnover in the next few years. 

Younger mainstays of the team are back including Dean Jaeb, Rylan Korte and Cole Bauml remain key contributors and are starting to form the nucleus of the team for the future. 

The home opening doubleheader is slated for Sunday, May 29 as the Saskatoon Stallions will square off against the Royal at the field in Marysburg. The full schedule is on the Marysburg Royals Twitter account.