The Oregon State University (OSU) baseball program recently paid a visit to southern Alberta for their fall training camp at the Seaman Stadium Complex in Okotoks.
The mid-September camp included batting practices, mound work, base-running drills, time in the weight room, classroom sessions, inter-squad games and an exhibition match against the Okotoks Dawgs Academy team, a Saturday night affair that was free for the public to attend.
It was a unique opportunity for the NCAA Division I team to travel away from their home facilities in Corvallis, Oregon and share some bonding time ahead of the 2024 college season.
In their role as host, Dawgs Academy also got an up close look at how an accomplished OSU club goes about its business, in addition to squaring off against them in a head-to-head matchup.
There is plenty of crossover between the two programs. The Beavers have recruited a number of Dawgs Academy grads over the years, and OSU has also sent several players to Okotoks to play for the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) summer collegiate Dawgs team.
Alberta Dugout Stories attended portions of the nine-day stop in Okotoks. Here are some of the sights from OSU’s fall camp at Seaman Stadium:
Hitters wait to get hacks in at the Ircandia Outdoor Training Centre batting cages … photo by Ian WilsonOSU Head Coach Mitch Canham (left) watches his players take batting practice … photo by Ian WilsonBatters with the Beavers look to home plate to see if it’s time to move from the cages to batting practice on the diamond … photo by Ian WilsonPlayers celebrate some productive swings as hitters cycle through batting practice … photo by Ian WilsonMason Guerra brings a bucket of baseballs to one of the coaches for BP. The OSU infielder played 15 games for the Okotoks Dawgs summer collegiate squad in 2022, scoring 14 runs and registering 10 RBI in the WCBL that season … photo by Ian WilsonFrom left to right: Brady Kasper, Micah McDowell, Travis Bazzana and Head Coach Mitch Canham chat behind the batting cage turtle … photo by Ian WilsonOutfielder Canon Reeder tracks a fly ball during BP. In addition to suiting up for the Beavers, Reeder played in 16 games for the Okotoks Dawgs in the WCBL in 2023. He hit .317 with 13 runs, 12 runs batted in (RBI) and 10 stolen bases with the Dawgs … photo by Ian WilsonMicah McDowell (No. 12) watches a ball leave the bat alongside his head coach and teammates at batting practice. McDowell was a Dawgs Academy grad who won a WCBL championship with the Okotoks Dawgs in 2022. Last season with the Beavers, the Nova Scotian posted a .342 batting average with 57 runs, 47 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 56 games … photo by Ian WilsonAssistant coach Joey Wong tosses BP to a hitter while second baseman Travis Bazzana waits to bat … photo by Ian WilsonAn OSU infielder rakes the infield near first base after batting practice … photo by Ian WilsonAn OSU player loosens up while teammates take a break in the Okotoks Dawgs home dugout at Seaman Stadium … photo by Ian WilsonPitcher Rhett Larson warms up in the visiting bullpen at Seaman Stadium ahead of an exhibition game against Dawgs Academy on Satuday, Sept. 16th … photo by Ian WilsonPitchers with the Beavers hang out in the bullpen at Kore 4 (+14) Corner while waiting for the exhibition game against Dawgs Academy to start … photo by Ian WilsonBeavers players high five each other in the visiting dugout … photo by Ian WilsonOSU starting pitcher Ian Lawson prepares to deliver a pitch as a Dawgs Academy runner makes a move towards second base … photo by Ian WilsonMitch Canham, head coach of the Beavers, looks to the dugout at his players during exhibition play … photo by Ian WilsonMichael Yusypchuk delivers a pitch to home plate during an exhibition game vs. OSU. The right-handed pitcher got the start for Dawgs Academy … photo by Ian WilsonActivity stirs in the Beavers bullpen in the early innings of play against the Dawgs … photo by Ian Wilson
Travis Bazzana, a highly- touted prospect with the Beavers, awaits a pitch from Yusypchuk. The Australian second baseman is currently expected to be a top-five selection in the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft … photo by Ian WilsonMicah McDowell (middle) is greeted by a pack of Dawgs players at second base after smacking a double … photo by Ian WilsonFans enjoy some “bonus baseball” during the exhibition game at Seaman Stadium. Admission was free and spectators were encouraged to bring their own food and beverages … photo by Ian WilsonBeavers hitters get back to work at batting practice the morning of Sept. 19th … photo by Ian WilsonTravis Bazzana adjusts his helmet after a round of BP … photo by Ian WilsonAssistant coach Ryan Gipson (centre) gives hitting tips to players … photo by Ian WilsonOSU players practice base running drills at first base … photo by Ian WilsonBeavers await fly balls in the outfield … photo by Ian WilsonAssistant coach Nate Esposito (right) prepares to send a pitch to an OSU hitter in the batting cages as other players watch … photo by Ian WilsonHead Coach Mitch Canham (middle) has a chat with one of his players … photo by Ian WilsonMicah McDowell finds a familiar seat in the home dugout of the Okotoks Dawgs … photo by Ian WilsonAssistant coach Ryan Gipson rolls an “L” screen off the field after batting practice … photo by Ian WilsonOSU players take time to bond at practice … photo by Ian WilsonAssistant coach Rich Dorman discusses pitch grips with one of his pitchers … photo by Ian WilsonOSU players warm up ahead of an inter-squad game at Seaman Stadium … photo by Ian WIlsonBeavers gather around Head Coach Mitch Canham before breaking for lunch … photos by Ian WilsonOSU ball caps, gloves, sunglasses and cleats sit in the home dugout … photo by Ian Wilson
