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.

Beaver Tales

Gavin Logan is no stranger to the open road.

Growing up on a farm outside Oyen, the young athlete played a lot of his minor baseball in Consort, before heading to Dawgs Academy.

After a couple of other college stops, he made his way to Oregon State University, where the Beavers are looking to get back to the College World Series.

All In The (Wheatley) Family

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.

Three Long Years

You couldn’t fault Shaun Atamanchuk if he thought the worst when he heard his UCL tear was the worst his doctor had ever seen.

Yet, the Beaumont, Alberta native took the news in stride, documenting his recovery through his Instagram account.

After nearly three years without baseball, he recently made the triumphant return to the bump with the University of Antelope Valley.

Hawkish Move

The gloves are off.

And we’re not talking about the ones that catch baseballs.

With the recent announcement that the Edmonton Riverhawks will join the West Coast League (WCL) in 2021, that summer collegiate circuit has staked a claim in the heart of Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) territory with its 15th franchise.

It’s a move that has raised eyebrows and, in some circles, ire.