Murray Wood: October is a special time on the prairies
Murray Wood is celebrating October, as we enjoy the last days of warm weather before the winter hits. In Saskatchewan, W...
The man they call “the Mayor of Saskatoon” now has a new title to brag about: most valuable player.
Ethan Menard, of the Saskatoon Berries, has been named the most valuable player of 2025 by the Western Canadian Baseball League. The Louisiana-born first baseman and catcher, who just finished his second summer in Saskatoon, led the league this season in slugging (.728), on-base plus slugging (1.175) and isolated power (.335). In 158 at bats over 35 regular-season games, Menard scored 62 hits, 42 runs, 13 doubles and 10 stolen bases, while batting in 39 runs.
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A hard-hitting right-hander, Menard posted the highest batting average on the team this year, with .392. He also tied with Berries’ designated hitter Cory Wouters for the second-most home runs in the league, with 12.
“I’m thankful and grateful to be named MVP,” Menard said in a statement.
“I’d like to thank God, my coaches and my teammates.”
In 158 at bats over 35 regular-season games, Ethan Menard scored 62 hits, 42 runs, 13 doubles and 10 stolen bases, while batting in 39 runs. (Saskatoon Berries/X)
The Berries had a stellar regular season, finishing with a record of 46-9. Menard said this summer was a special one, both for him and for his team.
“It’s some of the most fun I’ve had playing baseball in a long time, and just being taken care of the way the Berries handle business, was everything I could’ve asked for,” Menard added.
“I was able to be successful because of the work the coaching staff, training staff, as well as my teammates, helped me to put in.”
Joe Carnahan, the Berries’ head coach, said he was very happy to see Menard getting recognized for his hard work and success on the field.
“He went to the World Series with UT Tyler and carried that success up here,” said Carnahan, who was recently named the WCBL’s coach of the year.
“Ethan had an outstanding season this summer with a lot of highlights along the way. He had the ability to produce runs, get on base for us and was a big part of the success we had this year.”
Menard, who was also the most valuable player in the league’s 2025 all-star game, will now head home to Louisiana to play his final season of college ball at Northwestern State University.
