Celebrating Baseball Alberta’s Best of 2025

It was a record-setting year for Baseball Alberta and the organization is expecting even bigger things in 2025.

That was one of the many storylines coming out of Baseball Alberta’s Annual General Meeting and Awards in Edmonton.

From Bat Boy to Hall of Famer

It could have been quite easy for Orv Franchuk to dislike or even hate baseball right from the very start.

The Wandering River, Alberta product instead turned around and made it a passion, earning him numerous accolades including being named to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

Pote-ntial in Cincy

Baseball runs in Owen Pote’s genes.

His father, Lou, pitched 219 2/3 innings in the big leagues and played all over the world – Japan, Mexico, China, and even Canada with the independent Edmonton Cracker-Cats and Edmonton Capitals.

And now, he’s looking to move up the ranks in the Cincinnati Reds system.

1 Thru 9: Calum Andersen

It didn’t take long for Calum Andersen to etch his name into Vauxhall Academy lore.

As a 15-year-old in April 2024, the right-hander twirled the program’s second five-inning perfect game, striking out 10 in an 11-0 win over AHP Academy Black.

After an eventful 18 months, he’s now getting ready to join the Baseball Canada Junior National Team.

1 Thru 9: Jayden Kane

Few athletes have had the kind of high-profile year that Jayden Kane has embarked upon.

The Fort McMurray native and AHP Academy product has taken advantage of every opportunity given to him as he’s been looking to find the right college to commit to.

A Barry Good Call

The smile on her face and tears in her eyes were more than enough to tell what was going through Sydney Barry’s mind.

The Fort McMurray native also couldn’t help but laugh in retelling the story of how she found out she was on the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) draft-eligible list.

Baseball Call to the Hall

Baseball players, coaches, builders and dreamers are taking their place among the sporting legends of Alberta.

Five major baseball figures in the province – Orv Franchuk, Dr. Randy Gregg, W.P. Kinsella, Mel Kowalchuk and Reno Lizzi – are part of a major induction ceremony that will take place at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame …

OPINION: The Road to Okotoks

The road to Canadian baseball academy supremacy will go through Okotoks.

The idea of an academy national championship has been tossed around for years as programs want to show how they stack up against each from coast to coast to coast.

Joe McFarland takes a look at what has him excited for a national showcase in our own backyard.

Dawgs Hosting Canadian Academy Championship

The road to Canadian baseball academy supremacy will run through Okotoks.

Baseball Canada and Dawgs Academy have announced the launch of “The Road to Okotoks” national championship, which will see 16 elite academy teams compete for the Morneau Cup.

Daril Dominates Derby

For a third straight year, a prospect from an Alberta academy has been crowned the Canadian Futures Showcase Home Run Derby champion.

It was Daril Rodriguez (Red Deer, Alta.), of St. Joseph’s Ball Academy, who dialed up the three-peat, belting 17 total home runs across two rounds (two minutes each, with a 30-second timeout available).