Saskatoon’s Payton McHarg making headlines with homers in NCAA Division II

Baseball fans in Saskatoon will likely grow accustomed to hearing the name Payton McHarg this summer.

The Saskatoon-born player is competing in college baseball for Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.. Washburn is a Division II college in the NCAA, and McHarg is among the home run leaders in the United States.

In his first season with Washburn – his third playing college baseball – McHarg has already hit 18 home runs and has 50 RBIs, and boasts a .359 batting average.

McHarg made the jump to Division II after playing his first two seasons at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

The National Junior College Athletic Association – the league where McHarg played while attending school in Kansas City – allows student-athletes to get their prerequisites for whatever college courses they want to take if they’re recruited to play at a bigger school in the NCAA. The school also only allows student-athletes to stay there for two years.

During his time in Kansas City, McHarg hit only two home runs in his junior year and four the following season. He was injured during his sophomore year, which prevented him hitting more homers. But now that he’s healthy and thriving, McHarg is having a breakout season, which he said was the result of good coaching.

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“I think learning how to use my body better has helped me be able to unlock that,” he said.

“I’ve always had a little bit of pop going through high school and my first two years of junior college, but I never thought it would translate to having this many (home runs) in one year.”

McHarg said the talent he got to face while playing in Kansas City also contributed to this year’s success.

“I feel like the pitchers are more consistent (in Division II). In junior college, you’re facing some guys who are Division I and then you’re facing some guys who are nearing the bottom of other teams’ bullpen who are just there to play baseball for two more years,” he explained.

McHarg said he really started to develop as a player by practising at Going Yard, a baseball academy in Saskatoon at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

“Those coaches over there are really special. They’ve helped me understand almost everything about baseball. I went from being a hockey player that was only focused on hockey up until I just kind of wanted to switch,” he explained.

“I realized I could play baseball, went to their academy, and they helped me get to where I am today. I still work with them over Christmas break and summer break.”

Because of his success this season, McHarg has committed to playing baseball with the Saskatoon Berries in their inaugural Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) season, which starts at the end of May.

McHarg said playing in the WCBL is something he’s always dreamed of doing, and the fact he gets to play for his home city makes it extra special.

“It’s a dream come true. I’ve wanted to play in the WCBL for years. Ever since I came to college I wanted to play in that (league), but they never had a team in Saskatoon,” he said. “I’m so excited to play at Cairns Field again.”

According to McHarg, he played baseball at Cairns Field all the time while he was growing up, both with the Cubs and in a men’s league.

McHarg said he’s hopeful that continuing success at Washburn and with the Berries will let him make baseball into a full-time job one day.

“It would be awesome if I could play pro baseball,” he said. “I think the MLB draft might be a stretch, but signing with some team will be a goal.

“I want to play baseball as long as I can. Who wouldn’t want to play baseball the rest of their life?”

McHarg is majoring in the field of exercise and rehab science, which he said will give him some options if baseball doesn’t translate into a career.

“Hopefully (I can) go into a field somewhat sports-related, because I really can’t see my life without sports involved or being involved with athletes or people that train the way that I have,” he said. “I feel like I could help out a lot of people.”

It’s not known exactly when McHarg will join the Berries, as that will depend on when his current season ends. If his college team goes all the way to nationals, McHarg might not be able to join the Berries until early June.

The Berries begin their season May 25 in Regina against the Red Sox.