By JOE McFARLAND

There’s no place like home for Aidan Maxwell.

The Brooks native and Badlands Academy alum grew up playing and watching games at Elks Field, looking for an opportunity to suit up for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Bombers at some point in his collegiate career.

He almost lived that dream in 2023 as a high school affiliate player, suiting up in three games for the Bombers against the Giants in Fort McMurray.

While Maxwell picked up a hit in 11 at-bats and pitched in six innings over two outings, he looked forward to making his home debut at some point.

The Okanagan College right-hander is finally getting his chance in 2025, having already made three appearances out of the bullpen.

He’s looking to make the most of the opportunity as he missed most of the Canadian College Baseball Conference season – including the championship weekend won by the Coyotes – due to injury.

Maxwell joined us for the Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast WCBL Season Preview Extravaganza, which helped us build the latest 7^th Inning Stretch.

1. How excited are you to get things going?

I’m pretty pumped. I’ve been waiting for this for a while now, so I’m excited to get it rolling.

2. You’ve been on the shelf with an injury for a lot of the year so far, so I suspect you just can’t wait to get back on a field again.

Yeah, it’s been a while … since the winter, I think. Just been itching to get back out on the mound and really show it. Hopefully I’m ready for it and healthy. Beyond that, it’s all I can ask for.

3. As a hometown guy, what does it mean to you to be able to suit up at Elks Field in front of family and friends?

Oh, it means everything. I grew up and was a Junior Bomber. Even in high school, you’re like “I want to be a Bomber when I’m in college.” That’s the goal. To finally see it through, it hasn’t quite kicked in yet. I’m just really excited to be out there with my friends and family in the stands and I’m really looking forward to it.

4. Aside from the home field, are there any other parks around the circuit you’re looking forward to visiting or teams you can’t wait to face?

Oh yeah. I know I have a few guys on Saskatoon that I’m looking forward to seeing and going to that field. I know they have a good environment over there, so that’s definitely one for maybe not this year, but I think next year. And obviously Seaman Stadium, that’s always a good trip.

5. On a personal level, do you have any goals or expectations of yourself heading into the year?

I think just for this summer coming off injury, I think I just want to get some innings in and really log some innings healthy. I think that’s the gaol. Anything beyond that is a blessing. So, it’s really just to play a full season and stay healthy would be the end-goal here.

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6. Walk us through the injury. What happened and what’s the comeback been like?

Yeah, so it was February. Live AB’s indoors and I kind of just felt that pop in my elbow. Went and got it checked out and they said it was a UCL sprain. So, it wasn’t as bad as a tear. It was supposed to be a two- or three-week thing back throwing and it kind of evolved into just wasn’t getting right and taking time with it.

Then we reached a point where it was by the time I’d be back, it wouldn’t be worth it. I would log a couple of innings and lose my eligibility. So, we went the path of a redshirt. I’m here now but I think the toughest part was starting to trust my arm again. I was always scared of letting balls go. It’s taxing mentally. But every throw where it doesn’t hurt, it’s kind of a win for me in building my confidence throw-by-throw. I think it will really help me get over this in the long run.

7. What would it mean to you to win a WCBL championship with the Brooks Bombers?

It would mean everything. It’s something I tell my friends about, and I joke about. But it’s something I’m pretty serious about and I think it’s about time to get one.