By JOE McFARLAND

From the outside looking in, it looked like just another day at the ballpark for Brayden Morris.

The stat line reads one hit and one run in two at-bats, driving in two runs and one RBI hit-by-pitch as his Edmonton Collegiate Hawks slammed the host University of Calgary Dinos 14-5.

But that one hit, an RBI single in the fifth inning off Dylan McCuaig, etched Morris’ name into Hawks lore as he took over the franchise’s all-time hits record with his 90^th in four seasons.

The St. Albert native and NAIT senior has been lighting it up with the Hawks this spring, hitting .383 with four doubles, two triples, a homer, 11 RBI and eight stolen bases in 19 games.

More importantly for him, the team is putting itself into the conversation as a legit contender this year with a 15-9 record and sole possession of third place in the Canadian College Baseball Conference.

That wins total is also tied for the most the Hawks have had since 2023 when they registered 17 (they also had 15 in 2024) … and they still 12 games left in the season (including 10 at home).

We caught up with the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Morris on a recent edition of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast, which helped us frame up our latest 7^th Inning Stretch.

1. First off, congratulations on the record for most career hits in Hawks history. Did you know that was even in the offing?

I had an idea I was getting closer being this is a pretty young program and this is my fourth year. I just had a really great day down in Calgary and then I was pretty shocked when Coach Lanny (Jake Lanferman) told me and the guys.

2. What does that mean to you to be a trailblazer of sorts and set the bar high for the next generations of Hawks players?

It’s been awesome seeing the program grow each and every year. Seeing the alumni come out, even watching games in the spring, it’s just been so awesome.

3. What’s been key to being as consistent as you’ve been over the last few years?

I would say definitely just routines. Showing up to the ball field every day and just being happy to see the guys and keeping the energy light and loose. It’s led to some success.

4. When it comes to this season in particular, how are you feeling about your performance to this point?

I’m feeling good. It’s a lot of ups and downs, but each weekend is a fresh opportunity to get out there and just prove yourself each and every day.

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5. On the team side of things, how is everyone feeling in the clubhouse as we head into the final month of the regular season?

We’re feeling good. The vibes are high coming off a 3-1 series win over Thompson Rivers University. But, you know, that fourth game kind of slipped from us. Going against Okanagan College, they are a great opponent, so we’re looking forward to the competition.

6. As someone who has been in the dugout for a few years now, what’s your message to those younger players who may not have been through this kind of competition and you want them to be ready for a sprint to the finish?

Yeah, I would say that something we preach here is just “one pitch at a time.” A bad strikeout or a bad error happens and it’s going to happen again. So just try to push past that and move onto the next play.

7. What would it mean to you to win it all and bring a CCBC championship to Edmonton?

Oh, it would mean the world. We have a tonne of alumni who would die to still be wearing this jersey. It would be awesome.