Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, provides a rundown of the Western Canadian Baseball League’s season-opening games slated for later this month.
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Prospects Academy alum Brady Kobitowich (Edmonton, Alta.) says his mother, Erin, is “everything” to him, having raised him as a single parent. These days, thanks largely to his mom’s support, the 6-foot-1 right-hander is succeeding in a “jack-of-all-trades” role on the Niagara University pitching staff. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with Kobitowich.
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Left-hander Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) is rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery in the Cleveland Guardians organization. Despite his injury setbacks, he is confident that he will one day pitch in the major leagues. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with Sabrowski.
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Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares a list of active professional players with Alberta connections.
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The Western Canadian Baseball League is adding a team in Saskatoon in 2024, but they would like to add even more teams in the future, writes Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories.
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“An age-old question in the world of officiating is facing a new twist: how do you recruit and retain talented people coming out of a global pandemic?
It’s often a thankless job that has come under enormous scrutiny in the face of instant replay and cellphone video, but COVID-19 also opened up the eyes of potential umpires and referees to other ways to spend their summers.
Organizations like Baseball Alberta have been left holding the bag, scrambling to find enough people to service each game.”
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From Mexico to Okotoks to Kansas, 2022 Western Canadian Baseball League MVP and Okotoks Dawgs star Ricky Sanchez has excelled on the baseball field. The young infielder’s ascent up the U.S. college ranks will continue when he heads to Lamar University in the fall. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with the 5-foot-9, 170-pound sparkplug and Dawgs fan favourite.
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Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, writes about legendary Canadian Stubby Clapp’s two important seasons with the independent Northern League’s Edmonton Cracker-Cats in 2005 and 2006.
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From Red Deer to Big Bend Community College to the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Reign Letkeman experienced both success and adversity during his pitching career. The new father has now returned to his alma mater to share his wisdom as a coach. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently caught up with Letkeman.
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Vauxhall Academy Jets grads Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) and Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, B.C.) have been reunited in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently caught up with the two Canadians.
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Okotoks Dawgs Academy alum Brett Platts (Albany, P.E.I.) still has a goal of reaching the big leagues, but he’s taking a different route than he originally anticipated. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares Platt’s story.
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Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, provides an update on how Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) is progressing from his twice-torn, right Achilles that has keep him out of major league action since August 3, 2020.
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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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