Ballpark Blitz

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.

All Halen the King

Coming off a fantastic 2022 season, it was hard to believe that Halen Knoll would be able to find a way to beat it.

Instead, the 23-year-old Edmonton product thrived with the hometown Riverhawks, winning the West Coast League’s Pitcher of the Year Award.

Spreading Their Wings

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.

Where The Heart Is

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.

Alberta Links to Canada’s Top Baseball Influencers

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

Five Storylines We’re Watching in 2023

If one thing is for certain, 2023 will not be short on things for baseball fans in Alberta to talk about.

2022 certainly set the bar high with fantastic individual and team performances, great community-building opportunities and a return to “normal” of sorts after what was an unprecedented couple of years around the world.

Once again, we take a look at the top five storylines we will be watching heading into the new year.

The Rising Son

The baseball bloodlines run deep in the Chadwick household.

After his dad pitched for the Edmonton Trappers and California Angels in 1986, Tyrelle Chadwick is hoping to blaze his own trail in the sport.

So far so good for the Dawgs Academy product and Illinois State recruit.

River Runner

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.

Victorious Vaqueros

They may have taken two different paths to get to Central Arizona College.

But Dawgs Academy grads Tyrese Johnson and Matt Wilkinson are basking in the glow of winning the NJCAA JUCO World Series this spring.

Let ‘Em Fly

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.