It’s an opening weekend debut that Piper Wiklund won’t soon forget.
With runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh inning and a 13-4 lead over Prairie Baseball Academy, the Thompson Rivers University infielder was called in as a pinch-hitter for Elliott Howker.
She looked at a called first-pitch strike from Dawgs utilityman Zaden Wake and then a ball before stepping out of the batter’s box to take a deep breath.
Wiklund recalls hearing the fans cheering as she looked to collect her first hit in the Canadian College Baseball Conference.
“I was like ‘don’t be late on the fastball’ because they always throw me a first-pitch fastball, so that’s what I was ready for,” she told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “I had to stop over-thinking it and make it about ‘see the ball, hit the ball’ kind of thing.”
The third pitch was something she liked, and with the infield drawn in and the outfield back, Wiklund hit a single, driving in third baseman Ryan Petrie and completing the mercy 14-4 victory.
“It was all kind of a blur,” she laughed. “I didn’t even realize it was a walk-off, so to get on base and see everyone running out was really exciting.”
She says the moment was caught on video by one of her teammates, who recognized the enormity of the situation for the freshman Wiklund, the first female position player in Wolfpack history.
ENJOYING EVERY STEP
Being referred to as a trailblazer isn’t something Wiklund is quite comfortable with yet.
Growing up in Edmonton , she simply wanted to keep playing the game at the highest level she could.
From her humble beginnings in tee-ball, Wiklund has never mapped out her baseball plans officially, opting to live in the moment for the opportunities that came her way.
“I didn’t even know there was a Team Alberta for the longest time,” she said of playing for Baseball Alberta at the Baseball Canada Women’s National Championship in Stonewall, Manitoba in 2022..
“Those girls are so good – they’re playing for Team Canada or in the United States in softball or baseball.”
Making that team allowed Wiklund to travel the country and to see the level of talent from coast to coast.
Having the opportunity to play with those teams also gave her insight into her own abilities and to keep pursuing it wherever she went.
LONE WOLF
Looking for a change of scenery coming out of St. Francis Xavier high school in 2023, Wiklund enrolled in business at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C.
Wiklund was also invited to try out for TRU’s baseball team after a series of conversations between Wolfpack coaches and those who knew her back in Alberta.
Facing the challenges of moving to a new province, she started applying for a variety of scholarships and bursaries in hopes of easing the financial burden.
Among the awards she spent a lot of time on was the Millie Warwick/Betty Carveth Dunn Bursary through Baseball Alberta.
“I wrote this really long essay and it was a long application,” Wiklund recalled. “I was kind of thinking that there were so many girls who apply for this because there aren’t that many scholarships they could get for baseball.”
However, she received some good news via email and admits she was shocked but also excited as the award recognizes both academic and athletic accomplishments.
Wiklund was officially recognized as part of the 2023 Baseball Alberta Awards in Edmonton in November.
MAKING ADJUSTMENTS
Breathing easier with a bursary in hand, Wiklund’s attention turned to her work in the classroom and on the diamond.
With the CCBC season fast-approaching, she says she wanted to be a sponge with all of the information coming at her from the coaching staff, including former Edmonton Trappers and Major League Baseball pitcher Ray Chadwick.
“Ray is great at giving feedback in practice,” Wiklund said. “We do lives so you can get a bit more of a game situation quite a bit.”
While she grew up playing on many boys’ teams, the 5-foot-4 middle infielder says it has been an adjustment getting used to the quality of play at the CCBC level.
“Everyone throws a little harder and runs a little faster,” Wiklund said. “Their breaking balls are going to move that much more and it’s not just going to miss in the middle every time now, so it’s more seeing the pitch and adjusting to it.”
She adds she’s been able to lean on older Wolfpack players as well to provide feedback and their knowledge to improve her own game.
NOT THE ONLY ONE
Wiklund wasn’t the only woman to make her Wolfpack debut during that 14-4 victory over Prairie Baseball Academy.
Baseball Canada Women’s National Team pitcher Raine Padgham entered the game in the top of the seventh replacing Alex Lee.
After allowing a single to Owen Lucas, she induced two fly outs and a ground out to end her one inning of relief work.
CANADIAN BASEBALL NETWORK: Padgham blazing a trail at Thompson Rivers University
Wiklund says she wasn’t aware that Padgham was on the roster when she first signed, but finds herself impressed with what the Abbottsford, B.C. product brings to the mound.
“It was shocking to be the only two girls in the CCBC, but it’s good knowing there’s someone else I know going through what I am,” Wiklund said.
“It’s great to see how well she’s excelling, playing with Team Canada and doing really well on the mound.”
Padgham is a role model of sorts for Wiklund, as she would love the opportunity to represent Canada at some point down the line.
The pair is also following in the footsteps of Alli Schroder, who became the first woman to play in the CCBC as a member of Vancouver Island University from 2021-2023.
For now though, the 18-year-old is content on getting better every day on her own terms while being an inspiration for younger athletes watching her this spring.
Wiklund says many would be surprised to see her and Padgham on a collegiate baseball team, and knows she will need to continue to prove herself.
“I’m playing for myself instead of the other people who don’t think I should be on the team or all the other aspects of that,” she said. “It’s just playing because I really enjoy playing.”
As part of a TRU Wolfpack team that is turning heads with its strong start to the 2024 season, Piper Wiklund is finding success in her own way.
