The Western Canadian Baseball League was well represented on the Canadian Baseball Network’s All-Canadian college teams in 2022. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, provides a summary.
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For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Baseball Alberta was able to host its annual general meeting and awards gala in-person in Edmonton November 11-13. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares the names of the province’s annual award winners.
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Former Vauxhall Jets left-hander Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) has been dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Meanwhile ex-Okotok Dawg Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) has landed with the Tampa Bay Rays. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has the details.
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Right-hander Halen Knoll, named after the rock group Van Halen, made significant strides in the Alberta baseball ranks this year. He has also landed a scholarship to the University of Mary. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has Knoll’s story.
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“If you would have told Ty Penner in high school or even early in his college baseball career that he would one day sign a contract with a Major League Baseball team, he would have wanted to believe you.
But he admits, he doesn’t know if every bone in his body would have thought it was possible.
Just a few short years later, a life-long dream for the Lethbridge infielder became a reality when he signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.”
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Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently caught up with Canadian Women’s National Team legend Ashley Stephenson to talk about her new role as coach of the team and how she hopes to help grow women's baseball in Canada.
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“For all intents and purposes, Amar Mahmood is a late-bloomer in the game of baseball.
The Edmonton product loved the game, but admits he was out of shape in high school and “not very good” on the diamond.
He had been cut from various teams, and was simply playing the game for fun while training at St. Francis Xavier Academy in Grades 10 and 11 then 5 Tool Fieldhouse in Grade 12.
That’s when he met Absolute Human Performance (AHP) founder Taylor Burns, who convinced Mahmood to take a gap year and play with AHP’s first academy team.”
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Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, writes about inspirational left-hander Jim Abbott’s tenure with the Calgary Cannons.
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“Matt Stairs must feel at home in Alberta.
The former big league slugger, who was at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta., as a special guest at the Western Canadian Baseball League’s All-Star Game on Saturday, has a brother that lives in Calgary and he and his wife, Lisa, were staying with his ex-sister-in-law in Okotoks.
It was also in Alberta with the Oakland A’s triple-A Edmonton Trappers in 1996 that Stairs turned his professional baseball career around. At age 28, after seven seasons in the minors with only short stretches of big league action, he decided to open up his batting stance.”
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Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares the starting lineups for the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game, as well as details about the home run derby, which will take place at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta., today.
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Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, takes a look at the East and West rosters for the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game which will take place at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta., on Saturday.
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“It was a moment Sean Dunn won’t soon forget.
After being introduced over the public address system to a raucous crowd at Legacy Dodge Field, he went through his pre-game motions as his Fort McMurray Giants were about to face the Sylvan Lake Gulls.
However, this wasn’t just another game on the schedule – this was Canada Day 2022.
And the hometown hurler knew he had to take a moment to soak it all in.”
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Never mind if you build it. The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) has built it, is building it, and will continue to build it. And they – meaning the fans, the players and anyone else interested in being at the ballpark – are coming. Over the years, WCBL franchises have poured millions of dollars into investing in stadiums and baseball facilities in Western Canada. Even more funding is earmarked for the years ahead. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, takes a deeper look at the stadiums in the WCBL.
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“It’s not hard for Jake Lanferman to list off the coaches who have had an impact on his baseball career.
Sheen Bromley. Ray Brown. Taylor Burns. Ethan Elias. Mike Johnson. Chris Pritchett. Jason Chatwood. It’s a who’s who of baseball coaches in Alberta and Western Canada.
Now, Lanferman is hoping to add his name to that list of influential people as the head coach of the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks of the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference.”
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Okotoks Dawgs Academy alum Gavin Logan (Oyen, Alta.) is enjoying a breakout collegiate season as the starting catcher for the Oregon State Beavers. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with Logan.
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After a successful collegiate career south of the border, Jason Chatwood (Innisfail, Alta.) is happy to be back in his home province to raise his young family and lead the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Sylvan Lake Gulls for a second season. Joe McFarland and Ian Wilson, from Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke to Chatwood about his baseball odyssey.
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Okotoks Dawgs alum Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) says an emphasis on “intent” has been a key to his success on the diamond with Reinhardt University this season. Alberta Dugout Stories writer Joe McFarland recently caught up with Zdunich.
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After earning a World Series ring with the Atlanta Braves in 2021, Calgary native Mike Frostad has started his new role as head trainer and director of sports medicine for the Los Angeles Angels. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares Frostad’s story.
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“All he wanted to do was play the game he loved.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1879, Richard “Dick” Brookins began the 20th century with a professional baseball dream, but had it dashed after several stops with a handful of teams.
At nearly every turn, he found controversy because of the colour of his skin.”
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Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently caught up with former big league reliever Keith Comstock, who played two stints in Alberta and is the subject of one of the most-talked about baseball cards ever produced.
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