2023 ADS All-College Team

Pardon the pun, but Alberta once again hit it out of the park in the college baseball ranks in 2023.

We take a look at the outstanding performances we saw this year and wrap it all up with our annual All-College Team.

OPINION: Baseball’s Opportunity in Alberta

“Does Alberta punch above its weight when it comes to baseball in Canada?”

It’s a question our Joe McFarland posed on social media recently after what should be considered another successful year in our province.

But are we doing enough to celebrate it?

Alberta baseball fans packed the park during the summer of 2023, smashing attendance records along the way.

Ballpark Digest has the receipts, which show the Okotoks Dawgs having the third-highest attendance across all summer collegiate leagues and teams.

We take a look at all the numbers and how each Alberta market fared.

It was a long time coming for the Edmonton Riverhawks in 2022, after their debut in the West Coast League was delayed by the pandemic.

They persevered and nearly completed a run to the playoffs in the summer.

The Riverhawks loaded up in the offseason, feeling they have some unfinished business to take care of.

Every time Brady Kobitowich makes his way to the mound, he looks down at his wrist to remind him of what’s most important.

He then kisses the simple tattoo design of three lines, with each line representing his mother, grandmother and grandfather.

After a successful two years with Cloud County, he’s become a jack-of-all-trades with the Niagara University Purple Eagles.

A look at Alberta’s connections to Bob Elliott’s list of top baseball influencers …

Clayton Loranger had a summer to remember with his hometown Edmonton Riverhawks.

Ranking amongst the league leaders in several offensive categories, he was named a West Coast League First Team All-Star.

The Sherwood Park product also took it upon himself to be a community leader in the organization’s inaugural season.

Calgary’s Tom Poole admits he was a bit of a late-bloomer in baseball.

Not really hitting his growth spurt until his senior year of high school, Poole hit the gym in hopes of getting recruited.

His work ethic paid off in getting recruited by Cloud County Community College, where the freshman put his name in the record books.

Jake Lanferman is hoping to become a coach like the ones he was coached by.

Go down the list: Sheen Bromley, Ray Brown, Taylor Burns, Chris Pritchett, Jason Chatwood.

The Sherwood Park native is using their collective influence to carve out his own journey as the coach of the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks.

The Wheatley family tree has deep Canadiana roots.

From Glace Bay, N.S. to Cape Breton, to Edmonton to Iowa and next fall to Georgia.

Canadian Baseball Network’s Bob Elliott takes a look at the next generation of Wheatley, Jack, who has committed to Liberty University.