OPINION: Thanks Coach!

In honour of National Coaches Week, our Joe McFarland takes a look back at his summer spent coaching t-ball and coach-pitch.

1 Thru 9: Nathan Bailey

Discipline, teamwork, perseverance and loving to be in the competitive moment.

They are the big reasons that Nathan Bailey fell in love with the game of baseball and the ones that continue to drive him as he takes his game to the next level.

Back on the Podium

For a third-straight year, Team Alberta’s 16U Girls squad has captured a silver medal at nationals.

This time around, they came agonizingly close to their golden goal.

The Comeback Kids

The Red Deer Riggers’ run to a national medal wasn’t for the faint of heart.

As Alberta’s representative at the 2026 Baseball Canada Men’s National Championships, the Riggers came in believing they had the talent to get the job done.

But they had to come back on more than one occasion to claim bronze in 2026.

1 Thru 9: Mac Warawa

It’s a moment he won’t soon forget.

Innisfail’s Mac Warawa reflects on helping Alberta claim bronze at the Baseball Canada Cup this summer.

He also looks ahead to the upcoming Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase.

Snagging Silver

They played their brand of baseball right to the end.

Through the ups and downs of the Baseball Alberta Elite League season, the Parkland Twins believed they had to stay true to themselves if they wanted to come away as champions.

After capturing the BAEL title, they captured a well-deserved silver at nationals.

Long Time Coming

It’s been a good while since Alberta has brought home a medal from the Baseball Canada Cup.

So long, in fact, that most of the players suiting up in the 2026 edition of the tournament weren’t even in kindergarten when it happened.

Parkland Pandemonium

With the Baseball Alberta Elite League championship hanging in the balance, Garet Ostapchuk needed to take a deep breath.

The Parkland Twins utilityman admits stepping out of the batter’s box was a move to refocus on the moment: the score was tied 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth and teammate Dzeo McNaughton was standing on second base representing the winning run.

His single propelled the Twins to the Baseball Canada 18U Nationals in Fort McMurray later this summer.

Armed for Vengeance

Things didn’t go the way the Team Alberta Bighorns 19U Women’s Team hoped on home soil in 2025.

Hosting the national championships at Webber Academy just outside Calgary, they went winless.

This year, they will head to Saskatoon with several veterans including Airdrie’s Natalie Kerr.

Chuk-in It

He’s described as being a “team-first guy” who is the ultimate student of the game.

Red Deer CarStar Rangers hurler Kalon Babchuk admits he felt really good heading into a start against Fort McMurray.

By the end of the game, he had thrown a no-hit masterpiece.