Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

After spending last episode focusing on the players involved in the 2024 Western Canadian Baseball League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, this episode focuses on the state of the league through the various conversations had during the broadcast for the game. Thanks to HomeTeam Live for allowing us to use the audio from those interviews, which include: 1:36 - WCBL President Kevin Kvame 12:20 - Okotoks Dawgs GM Tyler Hollick 18:33 - Regina Red Sox VP Al Simpson 24:47 - Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew 29:26 - Saskatoon Berries President Steve Hildebrand 35:32 - WCBL Managing Director of Corporate Sponsorships & Marketing Mark Stiles 45:16 - Canadian baseball legend Matt Stairs

Have yourself a day, Carter Beck! The Saskatoon Berries slugger was the star of the 2024 WCBL Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, finished second in the Derby to Fort McMurray's Peyton McDowall before going 3-for-3 with two RBI to help the East Division to the 13-6 win over the West Division. Beck, who is from Carnduff, Saskatchewan, was named the Game MVP. In the first of a trio of new podcast episodes this week, we chatted with several players representing their teams at the All-Star Game festivities at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks. 1:45 - Carter Beck - Saskatoon Berries 4:50 - Peyton McDowall - Fort McMurray Giants 7:19 - Cooper Ciesielski - Sylvan Lake Gulls 10:45 - Jackson Syring - Regina Red Sox 15:44 - Colton Anderson - Regina Red Sox 20:58 - Ian Heck - Weyburn Beavers 26:36 - Nathan Houston - Moose Jaw Miller Express 29:26 - Antony Gilbert - Brooks Bombers 32:06 - Tucker Zdunich - Okotoks Dawgs

It's an action-packed episode of the podcast as we have five guests joining us this week as well as a new sponsor announcement and a contest to win a Michael Soroka autographed baseball. Joe sits down with long-time Okotoks Dawgs infielder Aidan Rose while Ian takes us along for his family trip through Saskatchewan to chat with Cory Wouters of the Saskatoon Berries, Takao Cookson of the Moose Jaw Miller Express and Marcus Graham of the Swift Current 57s. We wrap up the episode back in Medicine Hat where Ian caught up with Sportsnet broadcaster Jamie Campbell. 4:39 - Aidan Rose 21:05 - Cory Wouters 27:30 - Takao Cookson 33:59 - Marcus Graham 41:11 - Jamie Campbell

Both Joe and Ian found themselves on the road for Canada Day to take in games in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, respectively. Joe chatted with Bulls head coach Myles Fletcher (Lethbridge, AB) about being an original member of the LA Bulls and marking the team's 25th anniversary, utilityman Carlin Dick (Abbotsford, BC) about his season so far, and Sylvan Lake Gulls hurler Hunter Jones (Edmonton, AB) about his outstanding start. Then Ian stops by for conversations with Medicine Hat Mavericks stars Nick Thibodeau (Burlington, ON) and Tyler Vanneste (Warman SK) about their respective baseball journeys. 5:40 - Myles Fletcher 10:50 - Carlin Dick 16:16 - Hunter Jones 24:13 - Nick Thibodeau 33:16 - Tyler Vanneste

We've been meaning to chat with Richie Borysewicz for a while now following this spring's Jays Care "Field of Dreams" funding announcement for Bow Ridge Little League to upgrade the Tuscany Diamonds in Calgary. We finally had that conversation this week about the plans and what's to come. We also sat down with Okotoks Dawgs slugger Nash Crowell about the brutal pitch to the face he took with Reinhardt University and his return to the WCBL, and we meet Australian Lachie Smith, who is getting his first taste of collegiate baseball with the Edmonton Prospects before he heads to Odessa College in the fall. 8:11 - Richie Borysewicz 20:44 - Nash Crowell 35:33 - Lachie Smith

Plenty of news to get to, including the naming of the Baseball Canada Women's National Team Selection Camp roster, which includes six Albertans. We sit down with Julianna Scott to talk about her selection and what it'd mean to represent the maple leaf. We also chat with Sylvan Lake Gulls pitcher Owen Pote about his dad, Lou, and playing with AHP Academy, while Lethbridge Bulls catcher Noah McNeil drops by to talk about that crazy 31-26 win over Brooks, playing for Prairie Baseball Academy and more. 4:34 - Julianna Scott 16:38 - Owen Pote 30:04 - Noah McNeil

It's been a fun-filled few weeks around the WCBL ball diamonds with records being set and great performances galore. We check in with a trio of veterans for their perspectives and journeys in baseball. Hear from Brooks Bombers infielder Zander Bretza, Swift Current 57s pitcher Kenny Jinks and Okotoks Dawgs southpaw Graham Brunner on this week's episode of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. 4:13 - Zander Bretza 19:18 - Kenny Jinks 36:47 - Graham Brunner

We get through a ton of news (including a few long-awaited shout-outs to Albertans playing independent pro ball) and then get to the big story of the week: that insane 31-26 wind-driven game between the Lethbridge Bulls and Brooks Bombers. We check in on both sides of the field with Bulls veteran Josh Kabayama and Bombers catcher Will Bomersbach. Our final guest is another check in with a coach around the WCBL, with this one being Fort McMurray Giants skipper Joe Ellison. 6:17 - Josh Kabayama 27:50 - Will Bomersbach 49:08 - Joe Ellison

We have a fantastic show lined up for you with great guests and tons of news to get to. We recap the week with the headlines then catch up with Edmonton Prospects head coach Jordan Blundell about the team's return and what he expects this summer, then we're joined by a trio of prospects who hope to make an impact in the WCBL. Innisfail product and Sylvan Lake Gulls catcher Nathan Flewelling has had a whirlwind few months, while Dawgs Academy products Benito Bonilla and Eric Machej checked in with our Ian Wilson during the Okotoks Dawgs media day prior to the season. 7:40 - Jordan Blundell 26:42 - Nathan Flewelling 38:10 - Benito Bonilla 43:10 - Eric Machej

The 2024 Western Canadian Baseball League season is finally here. 12 teams will be vying for the right to hoist the Harry Hallis Trophy in the middle of August, 7 in Alberta and 5 in Saskatchewan. There are plenty of storylines to get to heading into the season, including the potential of a three-peat for the Okotoks Dawgs, the entrance of the brand new Saskatoon Berries, the return of the Edmonton Prospects, the international flavour of some of the rosters and the youth movement where plenty of local talent will be looking to leave their mark on the league. We have five conversations to kick off the 2024 summer season! 0:55 - ADS co-founder and chief writer Ian Wilson 14:53 - WCBL president Kevin Kvame on new baseballs 23:46 - Saskatoon Berries head coach Joe Carnahan 35:09 - Okotoks Dawgs utilityman Logan Grant 45:31 - Medicine Hat Mavericks veteran Brody Gardner

What a weekend it was in Lethbridge for the Canadian College Baseball Conference World Series. While the weather left something to be desired, the action on the field had a little bit of everything, especially in the final between the University of Fraser Valley Cascades and the Okanagan College Coyotes. In the end, the Cascades pulled out the 10-9 extra innings victory. We chat with head coach and former player Riley Jepson as well as CCBC Pitcher of the Year Josh Berenbaum and Albertans Max Prevost and Eli McKeen, who both played pivotal parts in a ninth inning comeback in the final. 8:43 - Riley Jepson 17:40 - Josh Berenbaum 29:21 - Max Prevost 41:02 - Eli McKeen

The US college season is wrapping up and the summer baseball season is about to begin, so we have a lot to get to both in the news and with our guests. This week, we chat with Edmonton Collegiate Hawks hurler Halen Knoll about this weekend's CCBC championships and the season so far. Then we head back south to hear the inspiring story of Spruce Grove's Gavin Fraser, who has been named Second-Team All-Conference and a Gold Glove recipient with Cerro Coso College. And we wrap things up with Dawgs Academy alum Jimmy Dionne, who had a freshman season to remember with Howard College. 7:04 - Halen Knoll 19:37 - Gavin Fraser 39:16 - Jimmy Dionne

It's been a little like drinking out of a fire hydrant lately with the amount of news to talk about each week. We do our best to get through it before we sit down with Valley City State University shortstop Jaden Babiuk (St. Albert) to chat about being named Second-Team All-Conference and heading to the Medicine Hat Mavericks this summer, Prairie Baseball Academy infielder Morgan Halliday (Edmonton) for our weekly CCBC check-in, and Dawgs Academy hurler Michael Yusypchuk (St. Albert) to recap the Best of the West tournament win, his frequent travels with the Baseball Canada Junior National Team, and suiting up with his brother for the Edmonton Riverhawks this summer. 4:30 - Jaden Babiuk 24:24 - Morgan Halliday 40:06 - Michael Yusypchuk

We have a full lineup of news to get to, but the big story of the week has obviously been the performances of Dawgs Academy and Okotoks Dawgs alum Matt Wilkinson. The highlight was a no-hit, six-inning gem for Cleveland's Single-A affiliate, the Lynchburg Hillcats, on April 25 and after five starts, he sports an ERA of 0.35 and 46 strikeouts in just 25+ innings. For a little insight into his arsenal and mindset, we sit down with Dawgs pitching coach Joe Sergent. Then we head to Baseball Alberta where long-time coach Chris James has been busy getting the wheels in motion for the upcoming season on the girls' and women's front. After a year which featured a gold and two bronze medals in national championships, we take a look at the talent across the province and the work being done at the grassroots and more. 7:20 - Joe Sergent 25:25 - Chris James

The University of Calgary Dinos are facing some stiff competition in their quest to repeat as CCBC champions. We sit down with veteran Aiden Szautner to get inside the clubhouse after the first weeks of the season. We also chat with Dawgs Academy alum Jacob Wrubleski about his stellar freshman season at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. And we also hear from Brady Turner of Prep Baseball Report Alberta about the level of talent we have graduating from high school this year and beyond. 5:26 - Aiden Szautner 17:24 - Jacob Wrubleski 33:30 - Brady Turner

From the outstanding performance of Matt Wilkinson to a Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week nod for Logan Grant, there was no shortage of storylines we followed this week. So we go through a lengthy news rundown before getting to two guests from the Canadian College Baseball Conference. We start off with Prairie Baseball Academy infielder and CCBC Player of the Week Owen Lucas to talk about his baseball journey, then we're joined by TRU Wolfpack infielder and 2023 Baseball Alberta Millie Warwick/Betty Carveth Dunn Bursary winner Piper Wiklund. 5:39 - Owen Lucas 22:21 - Piper Wiklund

The warm weather is back which is making it feel like baseball season now. We get through a ton of pro and college news headlines, then chat with Edmonton Collegiate Hawks veteran Rejean Bourget (Bonnyville/St. Francis Xavier), UBC Thunderbirds freshman Kyle Yip (Calgary/Vauxhall Academy) and Baseball Canada Junior National Team invitee Eric Hartman (St. Albert/Dawgs Academy) about their seasons so far. 4:49 - Rejean Bourget 20:48 - Kyle Yip 36:15 - Eric Hartman

Baseball season is in full swing with MLB and the minor leagues getting underway. We get caught up on the CCBC as well and chat with Calgary's Ryan Dousett, who is with Okanagan College, then sit down with AHP Academy alum and Indian Hills Community College standout Cole Huebner and Dawgs Academy prospect Tim Piasentin, who is one of many players with Alberta ties named to the Baseball Canada Junior National Team's Extended Spring Training Roster. 3:54 - Ryan Dousett 18:03 - Cole Huebner 33:20 - Tim Piasentin

Not only is it Opening Weekend in Major League Baseball, but the Canadian College Baseball Conference kicks off this weekend as well with all games happening in BC. The University of Calgary Dinos are the defending champions, but both the Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs and Edmonton Collegiate Hawks are hot on their tails. We get the inside scoop on all things CCBC with Logan Wedgewood and Sean Robbins of The Battery. Then we're joined by Ethan Webster of the Dinos, Zaden Wake of the Dawgs and Reece Devlin of the Hawks to get a look inside each of their dugouts. 5:33 - The Battery hosts 35:16 - Ethan Webster 49:39 - Zaden Wake 1:05:55 - Reece Devlin

We last chatted with Kyle Bloor on Episode 220 of the show as he was in the midst of a great season at Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he ended up going 3-0 with 7 saves in 21 appearances including one start, posting an ERA of 5.04 and 40 strikeouts in 30+ innings of work. Bloor had dreams of going pro, heading to Falmouth of the Cape Cod League hoping to capture the attention of MLB scouts. While he didn't get signed right away, he kept working away at things, and eventually got in front of scouts again over the last few weeks, signing with the Minnesota Twins. See the new story from Canadian Baseball Network's Bob Elliott here.