Talkin’ Alberta Baseball

After more than a year of writing stories about baseball in our province, we started talking about how to bring you even more.

One of the things identified early on was a podcast. And while the baseball season might be over, that doesn’t mean we’re going to slow down.

In fact, Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast is our way of keeping the conversation going year-round.

Repping Alberta on the World Series stage

A pair of Alberta baseball products will be competing for one of the biggest prizes in US junior college. Spruce Grove’s Kobe Hyland and Lethbridge’s Shawn Grandmont are suiting up in the JUCO World Series.

The Cardinal Rules

He may not come from what is typically considered a baseball hotbed, but Bonnyville’s Nik Cardinal has baseball in his blood.

His coach at Allan Hancock College, Chris Stevens, describes the 21-year-old Cardinal as an extremely hard-working pitcher who is constantly working on his craft.

We caught up with Cardinal to talk about his season at Allan Hancock College – where he won a Gold Glove for being the conference’s best fielding pitcher – and the upcoming WMBL campaign. We also spoke with him about overcoming injury and dealing with family tragedy.

If a Record Falls at Foothills Stadium …

It was an underappreciated moment for an underappreciated ball player, who was playing in an antiquated ballpark.

But when Cam Williams went 4-for-4 on April 27th against the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack, it was also a record-setting day for the 21-year-old third baseman.

Playing in relative obscurity for the University of Calgary Dinos of the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) – a six-team league featuring post-secondary student athletes from Alberta and British Columbia – Williams was well aware of the record he was chasing.

Dawg Pack Mentality

Dogs typically run in packs, and when it comes to the Okotoks Dawgs, they’re no exception.

One such pack headed south this winter and made its way to Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, where sophomores Justin King, Ryan Humeniuk and Corey Jackson were joined by freshmen Soren Graversen and Shaun Atamanchuk.

We look at the pack of Dawgs that’s helping the Falcons this season …

Pain to Patience

“Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.” Calgary’s Nick Vickers is hoping there’s truth to that saying, as he continues his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery in October. The Dawgs Academy product is eyeing a return to Virginia Tech’s baseball program next fall, red-shirting this season as a junior. We chatted with the Dawgs southpaw during what turned out to be an emotional week on-campus.

Swing and a Drive

Dayne Fredland is no stranger to sitting in the passenger seat of any vehicle. He spent many of his teenage years on the road between Grande Prairie and Okotoks. And he’s now traveling the open roads of the north-central United States plying his trade in the college ranks. But home is still where his heart is.

Jet Setters

For Vauxhall Baseball Academy players Jaden Griffin, Damiano Palmegiani and Martin Vincelli-Simard, you just hope their suitcase-packing skills are as good as their baseball abilities.

The trio barely had a chance to return to Alberta from Florida – where they suited up for Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team (JNT) during a hectic 12-day stretch of spring training action against MLB prospects – before they were headed south again for tournament play in Las Vegas.

Vauxhall’s team name – Jets – was never more appropriate.

Oulton Hears a Hoo

Alberta baseball fans may recognize left-handed pitcher Taran Oulton from his work on the mound for the Edmonton Prospects of the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL), but the 21-year-old has been a stabilizing force for the William Woods University (WWU) Owls this season.

The Owls – who play out of Fulton, Missouri in the American Midwest Conference – have an overall record of 21-11 on the year, including a 10-3 showing in the conference, good for second place.

For his part, Oulton has collected five wins over eight starts. The 6-foot tall junior has not pitched less than six innings during any one outing, and he has yet to yield more than two earned runs on game days. Over 55 innings, Oulton has struck out 50 batters while walking 15 hitters. He has also surrendered 56 hits, but just one of them for a home run

The Battery

Tyler Hodder and Josh Iannetti have played baseball together for about a decade. Whether it’s been in Fort McMurray or in Kamloops with Thompson Rivers University, the battery-mates are looking forward to a new baseball season. They also get to learn from a former Edmonton Trappers hurler.