Around the Horn

By JOE McFARLAND

It’s almost a rite of passage for a long-time Western Canadian Baseball League veteran.

When you have spent four or five seasons playing for a team, and especially if you’re from the same community or have deep roots there, your final home game is going to be emotional.

Also, depending on how you feel about each position on the field, a little uncomfortable.

Such was the case with Lethbridge Bulls standout Kalem Haney as he entered the final week of the 2026 WCBL regular season.

With a playoff spot sewn up, the discussions started heating up about the infielder playing every position on the field in his final home game: a date with the Brooks Bombers on August 5.

“The coaching staff and I were just talking about it jokingly,” Haney told Alberta Dugout Stories. “Then it kind of just came to be a sure thing.”

The team even promoted it on social media as a send-off for the young man who had dazzled hometown fans for five summers, even going a step further with a special recognition.

STANDING OUT AT UMARY

Playing for the Bulls has admittedly been “full circle” for Haney.

The Vauxhall Academy product played his American Legion baseball in Lethbridge and always wanted to play for the local WCBL squad.

His wish was granted for the first time in 2021, helping the Bulls claim the league championship in the COVID-abbreviated season.

Haney returned for the following three summers before taking 2025 off to give himself a breather while recovering from some nagging injuries.

All the while, he was a major piece of the University of Mary Marauders for four seasons.

The infielder’s career numbers speak for themselves: a .329 batting average with 14 home runs, 97 runs batted in and 28 stolen bases.

Most impressively, the All-Conference and Gold Glove winner also set the team’s record for career hits with 207.

“I couldn’t have done it without all of my teammates and the coaching staff I’ve had around me,” Haney told ADS: The Podcast after setting the record. “It’s been awesome and this place will truly have a place in my heart for the rest of my life.”

BACK TO THE BRIDGE

With the end of the collegiate baseball season upon him, Haney set his sights on making an impact with the hometown Bulls.

Surrounded by plenty of faces, including his brother Karsen, he was top-10 in the WCBL in on-base percentage (.474) and stolen bases (20) while topping the circuit in walks (45) to go along with a .335 batting average, four home runs and 45 RBI.

With the regular season winding down on the third-place Bulls, the talks began about having the veteran Haney, who was the 2023 WCBL All-Star Game MVP, play all nine positions during the final home game.

He felt comfortable with it, although he needed a refresher on taking his place behind the plate.

“The one position I was worried about was catcher,” said the left-handed hitter. “I caught a couple of bullpens the night before while we were in Brooks just to make sure I had a little experience.”

As it turns out, that’s where his journey around the park started, as he helped guide Carter Bevans to a 1-2-3 first inning with two groundouts and a flyout.

Then he moved sequentially from each infield position, then to the outfield, before moving to pitcher with one out in the eighth inning.

With the score 14-1 for the Bulls and the mercy rule in effect, Haney walked three batters and allowed a single before head coach Ryan MacDonald walked out to get the ball and give Haney a walk off the field he won’t soon forget.

“The whole night was a really cool experience and I felt so loved from all the fans.”

“They were engaged in it as much as our team was which was cool,” said the newly minted utilityman.

“A specific moment that stands out to me was coming off the mound and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.”

Haney was also induced into the Bulls’ Wall of Fame, which he admits was something that didn’t cross his mind at all heading into the contest.

A TEACHER AND COACH IN THE MAKING

If Haney and the Bulls have it their way, they will still have a few more games to play at Spitz Stadium.

They are getting set to take on the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the WCBL West Division Series.

Regardless of how the postseason journey goes, Haney is thankful for the opportunities and experiences he’s had along the way with the Bulls and with baseball in Southern Alberta.

The 23-year-old majored in elementary education at UMary with a minor in special education, and is looking forward to getting into a classroom in the near-future.

“I was never the greatest student growing up but had a couple of teachers who were so influential in my education career that I kind of wanted to be like,” Haney said.

“Not every student is going to be the brightest, not every student is going to have the best behaviour, and every student has a story and every student has a purpose and I want to bring out that purpose in every single child.”

And don’t be surprised to see him around the ballpark in the future as well, given he’s given coaching some thought as well.

“It’s definitely something I want to get into,” he stated. “I’ve learned so much during my career, met so many great people in baseball, so many great coaches, and it’s my time to pass that knowledge along and give back.”

Credit for our main image and other photos in this story go to Blair Takahashi.