Celebrating Baseball Alberta’s 2021

It wasn’t the usual banquet with all the fixings, but the Baseball Alberta annual awards ceremony still had a celebratory air to it.

While “unprecedented” feels like one of the most over-used words of the past couple of years, 2021 will certainly go down as one that officials won’t forget any time soon.

We recap the awards, some of the speeches and what Baseball Alberta president Jon Oko had to say in this story.

Save Situation

Heidi Northcott is no stranger to remaining calm in the storm.

On the baseball field, she held the fate of her team with every pitch she threw.

She has had to use that mindset during the COVID-19 pandemic as a Registered Respiratory Therapist in Edmonton.

Fantastic Four

Many young athletes have dreams of representing Canada on the international stage.

For four young Albertans, they took one big step towards that goal recently during Baseball Canada’s Women’s National Team Showcase.

They hope their performance was enough for them to get the call to the national team once an international event is once again organized.

Turn the Paige

Even though her playing days are behind her, Paige Wakefield is still more than happy to reminisce about her time in baseball.

Whether it was her home association teams, Baseball Alberta or Baseball Canada, she enjoyed every minute of it.

We caught up with her earlier this year for a chat on Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast and here is the full transcript of that conversation.

Love Letters to Baseball

Over the last year, we have asked a simple question of our guests on Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.

“What does the game of baseball mean to you?”

It has resulted in some of the most heartfelt, genuine answers, which we wanted to gather together in one place as we celebrate the game of baseball.

Hill of Tara

“I really still feel that baseball is just such a huge part of my heart and my life.”

Fort Saskatchewan’s Tara Sliwkanich might not be playing baseball right now, but she still feels it has shaped who she is.

The former Baseball Alberta and Baseball Canada star pitcher joined us in a recent episode of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast to talk about her days of playing and the lessons she has taken to her new career.

Three’s Company

They all say it took them by surprise and that it was also an honour.

Baseball Canada quietly unveiled its four major award winners recently and three of them went to Alberta products.

We chatted with Kelsey Lalor, Ellie Jespersen and Nicole Luchanski about what it meant to them to be recognized for their contributions to the game.

The Albertans of the All-American League

It wasn’t just Americans who suited up in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

A total of 68 Canadians were part of the league between 1943-1954. And the AAGPBL lists ten as being from Alberta.

On this International Women’s Day, we shed some light on their contributions on and off the field.

5 Players We’re Watching in 2020

Let’s be honest. We know we will be watching more than just five players.

But with the baseball season fast-approaching, we thought it would be fun to gaze into our crystal baseball.

One undeniable conclusion: there will be no shortage of storylines heading into 2020 from the professional ranks right down to the community ball parks in Alberta.

Alberta’s All-Decade Squad

‘Tis the season for year-end and decade-end lists.

We decided to put a different spin on those lists with a roster of Alberta’s baseball talent to suit up between 2010 and 2019.

From an MLB phenom to college stars to women’s national team stalwarts, take a look at who we think deserves recognition for their performances.