State of Alberta’s Game 2019

There is no shortage of topics of discussion for baseball officials heading into 2020.

The game’s growth has been front and centre as we see more talent make their way to higher levels, but enrollment, training and coaching will also be on their radar.

We chatted with Baseball Alberta’s Darren Dekinder recently for his analysis of 2019 and what’s to come in the new year.

Great Pote-ntial

Conor Pote knows what it will take for him to get to the next level in baseball.

The son of former MLB pitcher Lou Pote, the right-hander made a name for himself this summer at the plate and on the mound with Dawgs Academy Black.

He finished the season by being named the Baseball Alberta 15U ‘AAA’ Player of the Year.

Stand Up Double

Ellie Jespersen’s 2019 season can be summed up in one word: incredible.

After pacing Alberta at the national championships in Okotoks, the 16-year-old was named to Baseball Canada’s National Women’s Team, contributing in major ways.

She put the wraps on the year by being named to two major Baseball Alberta awards in November.

Lights Out

What a year it was for Donovan Wallace.

The Northern Lights Baseball Academy hurler’s squad took home a trio of medals over the summer, including a provincial championship.

He put the wraps on the season by being named the Baseball Alberta U18 ‘AAA’ Player of the Year.

Shari of All Trades

Shari Reiniger has turned her love of baseball and travel into quite the career.

Over the last 15 years, she has served in a multitude of roles for Baseball Canada at international events.

The Californian-turned-Edmontonian has seen it all, and gave us a snapshot in a recent episode of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.

Dedicated

It is unbelievably hard to keep secrets from people so deeply entrenched in their communities.

So organizers in St. Albert and Calgary had their hands full in putting together surprise celebrations for two staples in their respective baseball communities.

And even a couple months later, both Kurtus Millar and Glen Hansen have a hard time finding the words to describe having facilities named in their honour.

7th Inning Stretch: Dryden Howse

Dryden Howse and his Dawgs Academy teammates from Okotoks are having quite the year.

After winning the 18U BCS National Championship in July and being a part of Perfect Game’s third best travel team in North America, Howse has reunited with several of his Dawgs colleagues at the Tournament 12 (T12) in Toronto.

The Sept. 17-21 showcase event at Rogers Centre, hosted by Blue Jays Baseball Academy, features 150 of the best 14-19 year old baseball prospects that Canada has to offer.

Howse was kind enough to make time for us and answer seven questions as part of our 7th Inning Stretch profile series.

The Out of Towner

It’s not easy for young athletes to move away from home to follow their sports dreams.

Manitoba’s Ryan Humeniuk knew that if he wanted to play baseball, he’d have to do just that.

He packed up his things and came to Dawgs Academy, which set the stage for a long journey in baseball that continues today at the University of Louisiana Monroe.

Framing Up in Florida

Ayden Makarus wanted to be a goalie in hockey.

But his father made him a deal that if he played baseball, he could be a catcher.

Now the Airdrie, Alberta native is taking his game to a whole new level with Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team at Spring Training in Florida.

Trap Game

Edmonton baseball fans have long hoped for a return of the Trappers to RE/MAX Field and now they finally have it.

No, not those Trappers – not the Triple-A team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) that served as a stepping stone for aspiring major leaguers from 1981 through 2004.

The Edmonton Collegiate Trappers, an expansion franchise in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), are making their league debut this season and head coach Ethan Elias couldn’t be more excited about bringing a new form of spring baseball to the provincial capital.