Call to the Hall: read all about the newest members of the Sask. Baseball Hall of Fame

Stan Montgomery – Moose Jaw, SK

Coach Stan Montgomery, a Moose Jaw police officer and close Dimas family friend, helped launch George’s baseball career. Montgomery often visited the family’s Ambassador Café, where George and his cousin Nick would join local officers for lunch. When he asked their mother if the boys could play baseball, she explained that the family, newly arrived from Greece, could not afford the $15 fee. “You want them to play? You pay,” she told him. Montgomery found a way to cover the cost and went on to coach Dimas several times. His persistence, generosity and guidance gave Dimas the opportunity to begin a 30-year playing career.

Trevor Drury – Outlook, SK

Drury served eight years as provincial supervisor of Baseball Saskatchewan and is now past president. An instructor, evaluator and official, he worked games from 11U to the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Old Dogs division, including world championships in Thunder Bay, Ont., and Osaka, Japan. Drury umpired eight national championships, supervised 10 and served as crew chief at the 2019 21U nationals. That year, he received the Gold Medal Plate and Dick Williams Award, Canada’s highest umpiring honour.

Peter Duncan – North Battleford, SK/Red Deer, AB

Peter Duncan was recruited by North Battleford Beavers manager Ken Nelson in 1968. From 1968 to 1970, he played at Washington State University, becoming the first Canadian named to the All-Pacific Eight team, winning the batting title at .423 and setting a school hits record. Duncan signed with the Kansas City Royals in 1970 and reached triple-A after converting from third base to pitcher. He later helped establish the Red Deer Riggers and entered the North Battleford hall in 1996 and Washington State’s hall in 2011.

David George – Battleford, SK

George grew up playing baseball in North Battleford. He won a league title in his first organized season with Skip Krake’s St. Mary’s Indians, then moved to Lethbridge at 16 to play junior hockey. After returning to the Battlefords, George played for the North Battleford Beavers from 1979 to 2002. In 1991, he began six years of coaching with Bernie Albers and their sons, Michael and Andrew. Andrew later reached Major League Baseball and represented Canada. George then became an umpire and remains involved with the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League.

Tony Kuffner – Regina, SK

Kuffner played in the Western Major Fastball League during the 1970s and 1980s, suiting up in Regina for the Carlings, Molson’s and Wheat Country Motors. He also represented Saskatchewan in New Zealand and Japan. Kuffner later coached with the Regina Pacers, emphasizing fundamentals, discipline, development and sportsmanship. His teams won Western Canadian titles in 1994 and 2002.

Kuffner served 13 years as Pacers vice-president and has been president since 2014. He helped fundraise, secure sponsors and develop Pacers Park, where he remains park manager. The facility has 14 diamonds, two clubhouses, a maintenance building and capacity for major tournaments. Kuffner has contributed to the sport for more than four decades.

Barry Martin – Wiseton, SK

Martin began senior baseball at 17 with the Wiseton 49ers and became coach in 1979, remaining until the club folded in 2000. A centre-fielder and dedicated groundskeeper, he helped win 35-and-over provincial titles in 1995 and 1996, 40-and-over titles in 1996 and 1999, and the 1997 Coteau Hills League championship. He also coached his son Daniel from minor through senior ball.

When Daniel joined the Elrose Aces, he told his father, “We need a coach.” Martin has coached the Aces for nine years. He also spent 40 years in the Lions Club, serving as treasurer, recreation board president, rink board president and club president.

Ralph Archibald “Archie” Sanderson – Avonlea, SK

Sanderson grew up in a seven-child baseball family and played at Sanderson School, named for his father, Herb. After the war, he joined Avonlea and studied agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1951, he named the Southern Baseball League club the Avonlea Arrows after seeing arrowroot biscuits in a grocery store. Sanderson later played for the Wilcox Notre Dame Hounds and, after 40 years as a third baseman and all-star hitter, coached minor baseball and hockey.

Dr. Craig Weran – Meadow Lake, SK

Born in Battleford, Weran played minor baseball from 1978 to 1989, junior ball for the North Battleford Junior Beavers and senior ball in the North Saskatchewan River and Saskatoon leagues. He continued while attending chiropractic college in Minneapolis, then pitched for the Meadow Lake White Sox from 2007 to 2023. Weran now plays twilight tournaments, has run a Meadow Lake youth pitching clinic since 2016 and became a certified umpire in 2024.

Glen Winkler – Meadow Lake, SK

Winkler began with the Lang Angels and once hit three home runs in a game, crediting a pregame hamburger with raw onions. After moving to Davidson in 1984, he began umpiring and coaching. His wife, Donna, estimates he has officiated more than 1,000 games.

Winkler helped build diamonds in Blaine Lake and Meadow Lake. In 1992, he and Wayne Pike formed a Meadow Lake team that won its first league tournament and became the Meadow Lake White Sox. Named for son Quincy’s favourite team, the White Sox won provincial titles in 1993, 1996 and 1999. The program grew into Meadow Lake Minor Ball, which now registers more than 350 children annually. Winkler continues coaching in his 70s.

Troy Winterhalt – Lloydminster, SK

Battleford-born Winterhalt grew up in Unity and became the Wilkie Brewers’ ace in 1997 and 1998, winning his first North Saskatchewan River Baseball League and provincial titles in 1998. He also helped the Meadow Lake White Sox juniors win a provincial championship before beginning 22 seasons with the Lloydminster Meridian Twins in 2000. Over 25 senior seasons, Winterhalt helped win 12 NSRBL and seven provincial titles while also managing, coaching, maintaining fields and fundraising.

TEAM CATEGORY

1971 Lumsden Cubs

The 1971 Lumsden Cubs won the Saskatchewan senior baseball championship after sweeping Kipling, defeating Colonsay 2-1 and beating Govan in the Saskatchewan Baseball Association closed-division playoffs. Crowds reached about 4,000. Art Berard, Keener Lees and Pete Glencross later coached midget minor baseball, extending the team’s contribution to the sport.

1971 North Battleford Jr Beavers

Coach Rob Colliar’s 1971 North Battleford Junior Beavers earned bronze as hosts of the Canadian Junior Championship, three years after winning the 1968 18U provincial title. The roster included Hugh McIvor, Brian Lampitt, Mike Hanus, Rick Johnston, Bernie Lukowich, Ken Nelson Jr., Dale Knisley, Blair Hoffman, Tom Bidart, Bill Dunbar, Don MacDuff, Doug Mitchell, Arthur Randy, Dale Cooper, Gary Sarota, Bob Bourne, Randy Arthus, Kelvin Colliar, Ray Boyes, Bob Fawcett and Andy Kambeitz. Bourne later won four Stanley Cups, while Lukowich was drafted by Pittsburgh.

1960s Unity Cardinals

The 1960s Unity Cardinals drew crowds of up to 4,000 in the Qu’Appelle Valley Baseball League. The roster featured Gord Bonokoski, Dan Klippenstein, Art Berard, Bob “Bubba” Kerr, Jim Duncan, Murray Flegel, Gerry Duncan, Bob Schmidt, Keener Lees, Bob Lawson, Dale Barth, Iggy Baraniski, John Vallance, Pete Glencross, Larry Luhning, Ross Burrows and Terry Sitter.

FAMILY CATEGORY

The Flaman family

Adeline and Chris Flaman began Vibank’s family baseball legacy. Chris promoted the game, helped build facilities, coached the first Vibank Little League team to reach provincials and supported player development with the senior Vibank A’s. He also championed minor baseball and passed that commitment to his family.

Keith Flaman played minor baseball from about 1959 to 1966 and senior ball from 1967 to 1973, reaching the provincial Little League playoffs twice. He later played recreationally and volunteered as a groundskeeper, umpire and coach. Son Paul played every minor level and 10 years in the Producer League while volunteering and umpiring; Matthew played every minor level, six senior seasons and coached minor ball for four years.

Terry Flaman played on Vibank’s first minor teams in 1959, joined the Maroons juniors for provincial competition in 1970 and 1971, then spent more than a decade in senior baseball. He coached, umpired and helped build the diamond that hosted the 1978 Western Canadian Intermediate Championship. His children also played baseball and fastball, with one son earning Level 4 umpiring accreditation in Manitoba.

Brian Flaman began playing at eight, joined senior ball at 16 and competed in the Producer’s and Molson senior leagues. From 1979, he won provincial titles with the Vibank A’s and played at Western Canada Intermediate championships in Manitoba and Alberta. He later assisted an A’s championship team, played masters provincials and coached successful U15 and U17 teams. His children, Danielle and Michael, also played fastball and baseball.

Rick Flaman played 22 senior seasons in the Producer and Molson leagues. With the Vibank A’s, he won four provincial titles, earned tournament MVP honours in North Battleford, represented Saskatchewan at Westerns and won in Waskatenau, Alta. He later captured three Canadian masters titles and the 2005 World Masters championship. Flaman also umpired national and regional fastball and coached provincially. Daughter Allison became a two-time college All-American and now teaches pitching clinics.

Elaine Lang joined the Vibank Comets fastball team in 1974 and the Regina Ladies Fastball League the next year. After competing at provincials, she moved to Regina and signed with the Dusters. She also fundraised for the team. The Flaman family legacy spans players, coaches, officials and volunteers.

The public will have an opportunity to celebrate the hall of fames class of 2026 at the ceremony on Aug. 15. Tickets are available by calling 306-446-1983, or emailing saskbaseballmuseum@sasktel.net.

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ryan.lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by battlefordsNOW Staff

Call to the Hall: read all about the newest members of the Sask. Baseball Hall of Fame

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