BATTLEFORD -- The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum recently announced its induction class for 2024, and if you’ve been a fan of Major League Baseball over the last decade, you’ll most certainly recognize the three headline inductees.
Leading the class of 13 during the ceremony on Aug. 17 in Battleford will be North Battleford pitcher Andrew Albers, Regina pitcher Dustin Molleken and Regina umpire Stu Scherwater, all of whom have recently played or are currently in action with MLB.
Joining the trio as inductees are Eugene “Buck” Gerbig of Maidstone, Regan L’Heureux of Unity, Harry Luhning of Lumsden, Norman McInnis of Saskatoon, Rodney Pelaniuk of Regina, Sever Rose of Turtleford, Larry Schrader of Regina, Lee Taves of Mervin, Stacy Walker of Lloydminster and Team Saskatchewan from 1994 Canada Cup.
Andrew Albers
Albers, 38, grew up in North Battleford and played his entire standout minor baseball career in the city, eventually being selected in the 12th round, 134th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.
After opting not to sign with his first MLB club, Albers suited up for the NCAA Division I University of Kentucky, where he pitched 81 games, recorded 20 wins and 12 saves, ranking in the top five in Wildcats history in all three categories.
The San Diego Padres selected Albers in the 10th round, 315th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft, kicking off a long journey through professional baseball.
After receiving Tommy John surgery in 2008 and being released by the Padres, Albers pitched with the Quebec Capitals in the Can Am Association in 2010 campaign, racking up 17 saves and a 1.40 ERA. That led to him being signed by the Minnesota Twins out of spring training in 2011, beginning his pro career in earnest.
After moving up to AA ball that season, Albers joined Team Canada for the Baseball World Cup, going on to win the bronze medal and subsequently being named Saskatchewan’s male athlete of the year in 2012.
Albers lit up the AAA International League the following season, posting a 2.86 ERA and recording 116 strikeouts, leading to his Major League debut with the Twins on Aug. 6, 2013 -- and what a debut it was, as Albers went 8 ⅓ scoreless innings while giving up four hits against Kansas City. His next start was even better, as he tossed a complete game shutout, taking a 3-0 win over Cleveland while allowing just two hits.
After posting a 6-13 record with a 5.89 ERA that season, Albers was released and played the following season in the Korea Baseball Organization before signing a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014. He played one game for Toronto in the 2014 campaign and later signed a minor league deal with Minnesota in 2016.
Albers bounced around the minors from there and played two seasons in Japan before joining Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic in 2023.
Albers retired as an active player following the 2023 season and is now a coach with the Saskatoon Berries of the Western Canadian Baseball League.
All told, Albers spent five seasons in Major League Baseball with three teams, recording an 8-8 record and 4.58 earned run average, striking out 91 and putting together 1.38 walks and hits per inning pitched.
Dustin Molleken
Molleken, 39, was born in Regina and played minor baseball in the Queen City throughout his youth. A solid run in 18U AAA led to Molleken being drafted in the 15th round, 435th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2003, kicking off a seven year career that saw him reach the AA ranks before declaring free agency in 2010.
That led to Molleken being signed to a minor-league deal by the Colorado Rockies, where he spent two seasons in AAA and AA before being given his release to play in Japan in 2011.
That same year, Molleken pitched for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic alongside Albers and helped them to a bronze medal.
Molleken signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2013 season and was a spring training invite before spending the campaign in AAA Nashville. He spent the following year in the Cleveland Indians organization, again pitching at the AAA level and recording a 3.25 ERA in 40 appearances.
That led to the best season of his career in 2016. Molleken signed a minor-league deal with the Detroit Tigers for the 2015 season, and after a solid showing in AAA, was called up to the Tigers and made his MLB debut on July 4, 2016. All told, Molleken would make four appearances for Detroit, recording a 4.32 ERA.
After being released following the 2017 season, Molleken played three seasons of professional ball before retiring following the 2020 season.
Molleken is now a pitching coach with the Moose Jaw Miller Express of the Western Canadian Baseball League.
Stu Scheurwater
Scheurwater, 41, got his start behind the plate as an umpire in Regina when he was only 11 years old, beginning what would become an impressive career as an on-field official.
Scheurwater attended clinics and quickly advanced in the provincial umpiring levels, working numerous provincial tournament including the Saskatchewan Summer Games. It all led to Schuerwater catching on with Baseball Canada’s national program, with whom he’d work his first national tournament at the 2005 Canada Cup in Medicine Hat.
After attending the elite Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School in Daytona Beach, Fla. Scheurwater joined the ranks of professional baseball in 2007 and began working in the minor leagues in the Arizona League, where he’d hone his calls until the 2013 season.
That’s when Major League Baseball came calling, with Scheurwater first assigned to spring training in 2013 and then appearing in 268 games as a call-up
Schuerwater was hired as full-time MLB umpire in 2018 and continued to work games -- including a host of special assignments in 2023 that included the All Star Game, League Championship Series and World Baseball Classic.
Norm McInnis, Builder
McInnis coached Regina Red Sox for seven years and was president for six years. He was with the Saskatchewan Baseball Association for six years and was executive director of the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball for four years and was a director for Sask. Sport for seven years.
Larry Luhning, Player/Builder
Luhning played with many teams throughout the years, but mostly with the Lumsden Cubs. As a player, Luhning was on two Canadian Masters championship teams, two Western Canadian championship teams and 10 provincial championship teams and earned six league championships. Luhning served 19 years as a coach to his son and daughter on league, provincial, Western and Canadian championship teams.
In 1992, Luhning was a member of the Lumsden Cubs, the Senior Team of the Year. He was a director of Zone 5, Sask Baseball from 2003-17.
Larry Schrader, Umpire
Schrader had a long and distinguished career as a baseball umpire since 1971. A wide range of experiences included more than 25 provincial age group championships and two international championships. In 1994 he umpired for the North Central Baseball League and 1995-96 for the Prairie League of Professional Baseball.
Regan L’Heureux, Player/Builder
As a catcher and player/coach, L’Heureux was instrumental and successful in getting the Unity Senior Cardinals back on the field in 2003. Under his leadership, they hosted senior provincials in 2008 and again in 2013 when they lost to the Wilkie Brewers in the final game.
L’Heureux was committed to the programs and kept building the game of baseball in Unity.
As president of the Unity Minor Baseball for more than five years, he was successful in getting batter cages and mounds for the ball diamonds and an indoor batting cage. He played senior baseball for the Unity senior team for 11 years, winning the 2013 Senior A1 Championship.
L’Heureux is also a certified umpire. He was named Canada’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
Eugene “Buck” Gerbig, Player/Builder
Gerbig was born into a ball family. His father, Lloyd, lived, loved, played and coached baseball teams for many years. The family would play ball for hours. After seeding all day, Lloyd would his sons outside and hit fly balls and grounders.
Buck became a pitcher for the Standard Hill Lakers. A diamond was built north of the Gully Bridge, only one mile from home, then later at Silver Lake, changing their name from Standard Hill Pats to Standard Hill Lakers. The team played many games and tournaments at Lloydminster, Hillmond, North Bend, Turtleford, St. Walburg, Rabbit Lake, Paradise Hill, Two Hills, Provost and Dewberry, bringing home ‘the money’ from the majority of them.
Gerbig coached minor ball from Mosquito through Senior. He was the builder of the Standard Hill Laker Baseball organization.
Rodney Palaniuk, Builder
Rodney Palaniuk is the current president of the Regina Optimist Baseball Association. He has served in this capacity for more than 28 years along with coaching. He was also president of the Regina Optimist Baseball Association/Park for 19 years. Palaniuk served on the board in various capacities for 25 years, hosting many major Saskatchewan Baseball midget and junior championships and national championships and Baseball Canada Cup. His work contributed to dramatically improved facilities in Regina Optimist Park.
He was supportive of Qu’Appelle Valley Senior League. Palaniuk eceived the 2015 Joe McDonald Special Award of Merit and the 2021 National Outstanding Volunteer Award for National Philanthropy.
Sever Rose, Player
Sever Rose joined his first baseball team in Mervin in 1977. In 1978 he pitched for the Fairholme Mosquito team, which had a winning record. Sever’s ability to pitch, hit and catch garnered him his first of numerous most valuable player awards. He was picked up by many teams to join them in their quest for provincial Beaver championship titles.
Sever was invited to the Cincinnati Reds tryout camp in Regina. Joining the North Battleford Midget “A” for the Western Canadian Baseball Congress in Brandon, Man., Sever won the tournament MVP award.
In 1987, Sever again was a member of Team Saskatchewan. In 1989-90, he played with North Battleford Beavers. In 1993 played with the Mervin Flyers, winning the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League title. Sever continued to play in that league for the next 20 years then as an “old timer” with Provost, Alta. playing five to six tournaments yearly, often taking the mound.
Sever brought skill and determination and led by example. He was most proud of his time playing with Team Saskatchewan.
Stacey Walker, Player/Builder
Walker grew up in Colonsay. His grandfather, Johnny Folk, played for the Colonsay Monarchs. Players would come from the United States to play semi-pro baseball in Saskatchewan. Walker moved to Lloydminster in 1995 and joined the Lloydminster Meridian Twins as the centrefielder. He soon became head coach and manager. In 2000 Walker led his team to their first North Saskatchewan River Baseball League title, the first Lloydminster men’s team to win a championship in 50 years.
Under Walker’s leadership as player/coach the Twins won the title in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Walker remained as centrefield through the 2007 season then for the next decade helped the team in any way he could until he again joined the Meridians in 2017. He started centrefielder for the Twins at the provincial championships in Unity.
Walker had speed, caused havoc on the basepaths and was among the league leaders in stolen bases, stealing home on several occasions. His teammates voted him to represent the Twins at the NSRBL All-star game multiple times.
In 2004, Walker started coaching his sons, and from 2008 to 2012 Stacy helped guide their team to six provincial championship titles. They represented Saskatchewan at nationals in 2012. In 2010, Walker also made time to help the Cadogan Nighthawks win the 35+ Division at the Canadian National Oldtimer Championships as their centrefielder.
Walker resides in Calgary and remains an avid baseball fan.
Lee Taves, Player/Builder
Lee Taves attended Turtleford High School. His love of baseball started at an early age, following his dad’s [Bob Taves’] footsteps, displaying an impressive talent and array of skills. In 1974 he joined the Mervin Flyers baseball team, the start-up year of the North Saskatchewan Baseball League. Mervin joined the league. This was the first of 25 years that Taves would put on the Mervin Flyers uniform and run out to centrefield.
Taves was respected for his ability to run down the ball and get the out. He was a role model for his teammates as he posted impressive stats in all categories. In 1984 he had a batting average of.447 in 46 at-bats. The magnitude of his bat propelled the Mervin Flyers to win the 1993 NSRBL championship. Taves’ dream to play with his sons Ryan and Trevor, with the Flyers, came true from 1995-98.
After playing 25 years, Taves took over coaching the Flyers and was an integral part of the provincial teams that were contenders in the Provincial Intermediate “C” and “D” divisions throughout the years.
Taves joined the Mervin Flyers Twilight [35 and over] and played another 15 years. At the 2000 Provincial Midget “A2” tournament in Mervin, Taves was honoured for his contribution and immeasurable impact on the development of youth through sport in the community. Baseball lost a beloved member of its community, but his legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren in the love of the game of baseball he instilled in them. Lee passed away after a battle with ALS Aug. 15, 2022 at the age of 66 years.
Team Category
Team Saskatchewan Midget 1994 Provincial Champions
The 2019 season marks the 25th anniversary of Team Saskatchewan Midgets winning gold at the Canada Cup held in Moncton, N.B. Team Saskatchewan played Team Quebec in the final, with Craig Flanagan pitching, winning 9- 8. Many players from this team have been inducted into the individual category.
