At 5-foot-11 and 155 pounds, Braxton Bussing isn’t the biggest guy in the dugout on any given team.
What he lacks in size, the Coronation, Alberta native makes up for with his on-field performance.
Bussing has steadily climbed onto the depth charts for Baseball Alberta, who named him to their Baseball Canada Cup roster for the 2024 national championship in Fort McMurray.
A product of Neutral Hills Academy in Consort, he has made the transition over to Badlands Academy in Oyen for his final year of high school baseball.
The southpaw will then take his talents stateside after committing to Minot State University, an NCAA Division II schoole in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
After his commitment announcement, Bussing joined Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast to talk about his journey, with his answers forming the basis of our latest 1 Thru 9.
1. How excited are you to get going at Minot State?
I’m super-pumped. It’s a great school down there and I’m ready to get going. I think it’s a really good conference and it’s only 10 hours away (from home) so I’m just a quick little drive down there.
2. What are you hoping to take when you head down there?
I think I’m going to go down the road of physical education and see how that goes. My mom is a teacher, so that may have persuaded that a little bit.
3. What did it mean to you getting to represent Alberta at the Baseball Canada Cup?
That was awesome. Just being around all those guys and coaches. It was pretty cool just being able to represent your province. It’s pretty special as not a lot of people get to do that.
4. Did you learn anything about your own game playing at that level?
I think just being able to go and compete, really. It was a long week and it was tough. I felt like I could have pitched better, so I had to take away from it that I can do better than that.
5. Do you have any goals or expectations of yourself heading into this offseason?
Just gaining weight, for sure. I’m kind of small right now and I’m young, so just getting stronger in the weight room and putting on weight will help me in the long run.
6. How did you get into the game of baseball in the first place?
I played in Coronation until my last year of 15U. The coaches there were always a lot of fun. That’s what got me into the game was the fun of it, really.
7. Baseball is known as a game of failure. What’s been the biggest challenge or hurdle you’ve had to overcome?
I would say being injured. That’s always tough when you know you can go out and play, but you just can’t. That’s the hardest part.
8. When you’re chatting with those young kids starting on their baseball journeys, what advice would you give to the ones just starting out and wanting to get to where you’re at now?
Have fun. That’s the biggest part. It’s still a game and you’re not going to go very far if you don’t like it or don’t have fun doing it.
9. What does the game of baseball mean to you?
It means a lot. It’s all I do. That’s what I live for now.
