Easter came early this year for Brett Potter.
But instead of collecting chocolate-covered eggs and other treats, the University of Calgary Dinos infielder was collecting home runs against the Vancouver Island University Mariners.
In the April 12th doubleheader, Potter hit three balls out of Glen Hansen Field and drove in six runs in just three at-bats.
The first round-tripper came on the first pitch of his at-bat in the seventh inning of a 9-4 win over the visitors.
Then in his first at-bat of the second game, he hit a 2-0 offering from Bennett Mason over the fence to lead off the second frame. Potter came up again in the next inning and belted another home run.
The Cranbrook, B.C. native couldn’t believe what was happening, as it was his first three collegiate home runs since joining the Dinos, and turned out to be the only three he had over the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) season.
The Dinos veteran ended the campaign with a .355 batting average in 26 games to go along with two doubles, a triple, 14 runs scored and 19 runs batted in.
The fourth-year Faculty of Arts student joined us for Episode #328 of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast, leading to this latest installment of 7th Inning Stretch.
1. Have you ever had a stretch like that before where you hit three home runs in three at-bats?
No, I can’t say I have. These are my first three college home runs since I’ve been with the Dinos starting in 2021. And my last home run might have been in high school or even middle school even. It’s definitely crazy for me and it was surreal.
2. It’s one thing to do it once or twice, but three times? What were you looking for in that third at-bat?
The third one, the first pitch, I got a change-up and swung over it. I was kind of laughing because it was surreal to me as that was the first pitch that I swung at all day that wasn’t a home run. So I laughed at the plate a little bit. I was just trying to hit something hard, right up the middle, back at the pitcher’s head, and I just elevated it and it went out in left. It was pretty surreal.
3. What goes through your mind as you’re rounding the bases? Is it one of those “did that just happen” kind of moments?
Yeah, for sure. I remember after the third one, I shook Cam’s hand coming around third and said “I’m not too sure what’s going on right now,” and I’m sure he kind of felt the same way. It was just a really special moment for myself and my team. I’m just happy to be able to provide for my team in that kind of way.
4. A great stretch as part of a good spring so far for you. Numbers aside, how are you feeling about how things are going?
Yeah, I’m feeling good. We’ve had a lot of positives and a lot of things to build on in the next few games. Just going to keep putting our best foot forward and slowly build up towards peaking at the right time.
5. What do you like about this year’s squad and what do you have to do to get back into the winner’s circle again?
I think there are some similarities between the 2023 team and this team. We have a really good balance of veterans and exciting new guys coming up. I think that sticks out. We’ve always had great pitching and a great bullpen, and our at-bats were great in the playoffs. We just got hot at the right time. We have a lot of guys who are swinging it really well right now and we’re just hoping that will continue through the season and get hot at the right time.
6. What have you been saying to the guys have you’ve been going through things as you head towards May long weekend?
With us playing every five or six days, you really can’t dwell too much on the past weekend, whether it’s from a team perspective or from an individual perspective. You just have to go week-by-week and try to put your best foot forward going into the games on a Friday or Saturday. Don’t get stuck in the past, whether it’s success or failure. It’s good to live in the moment, try to be in the present, and not worry about the ups and downs.
7. What kinds of advice or words of wisdom would you like to impart on anyone either starting their baseball journeys or just joining the Dinos and they want to get to where you’re at now?
I think it’s just that you have to trust – it’s going to sound cliché – that if you work your hardest every single day and not think too much in the future. Just enjoy it. It’s going to fly by quick. Whether it’s in the season or in the summer or in the school gym in the winter, you have to show up every day and try to get a little bit better. Try not to think too long term, enjoy the grind and really just try to take it slow. Enjoy it because you play it every day, so if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t go far.
