By JOE McFARLAND

It was Levi Abbott’s world and we were just living in it.

In his final year of eligibility, the Lethbridge Bulls hurler laid it all out on the line in one of the best single-season pitching performances we have seen in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

So it should come as no surprise that he was on my ballot for three major league awards, which I had a vote on for the first time as a member of the media.

Covering the league for both Alberta Dugout Stories and Saskatchewan Dugout Stories as well as the weekly WCBL Report with Clark Monroe, I watched a lot of baseball and tried my best to stay on top of every game I could.

It was a whirlwind, to be sure, but it allowed me to witness some outstanding moments, as well as overall seasons, by several players.

The WCBL has now counted the votes and made the major award announcements, so I thought I’d add to the drama a bit by unveiling my ballot.

Now, keep in mind, these are the REGULAR SEASON awards. While there were plenty of great performances during the playoffs, I tried to keep my voting aimed at the 56-game schedule. And here’s what I came up with:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Ethan Menard, Saskatoon Berries

After missing the first couple of weeks of the season, Ethan Menard made his presence felt immediately with the Saskatoon Berries, going 1-for-3 with two RBI in a 7-1 win over Medicine Hat. He never turned back, including a stretch of six homers and 11 RBI in three games to end June. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Louisiana-born senior wrapped up the year near the top of the league in batting average (.392), home runs (12) and RBI (39) while also stealing 10 bases to pace the record-setting Berries team. Menard was also the WCBL All-Star Game MVP after hitting a home run in the East Division’s rain-shortened victory. It was a dominating performance from the start, earning him my vote for MVP and, as it turns out, the majority of voters around the league as he was crowned the victor.

Second place: William Edwards (Moose Jaw)
Third place: Levi Abbott (Lethbridge)

MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN – Connor Crowson, Okotoks Dawgs

A lifelong Dawg known best for his heroics in the 2024 WCBL championship, everyone wondered what Connor Crowson would do for an encore. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound infielder just kept on rolling by hitting .401 to rank second in the league. He was also among the leaders in runs (51), RBI (45), doubles (13), triples (3) and even stole seven bases. While his home run total dipped from nine in 2024 to three, Crowson was still a vital part of the Okotoks Dawgs squad which fell just short of getting back to the WCBL championship for a fourth-straight season. It sounds like this might have been one of the more competitive races, with Crowson ultimately taking home the award.

Second place: Carter Beck (Saskatoon)
Third place: Levi Abbott (Lethbridge)

MOST OUTSTANDING PITCHER – Levi Abbott (Lethbridge Bulls)

Third time is a charm for Levi Abbott. After finishing in my top three for the first two awards, it was easy to check him off as this year’s Most Outstanding Pitcher. The Lethbridge Bulls ace came oh-so-close to capturing the league’s Triple Crown as the leader in wins, strikeouts and ERA. In eight starts (including two complete games), Abbott posted a 7-1 record (tied for first in wins) with a 1.39 ERA (tops) and 69 strikeouts (second only to Westin Walls’ 89) in 52 innings. He allowed just eight earned runs all season and walked only 10 as he was easily my choice for the circuit’s top twirler. Most voters agreed with that sentiment, with the Vauxhall Academy alum capturing the award.

Second place: Josh Tucker (Sylvan Lake)
Third Place: Tristan Harley (Energy City)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Zane Skansi, Okotoks Dawgs

If you were a regular viewer of the WCBL Report, you’ll know where I stand with Zane Skansi. The Okotoks Dawgs infielder was in the top-10 of most offensive categories all season long and, for quite a while, in the top-three. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Washington State native finished the year with a .363 batting average (10^th) with 11 homers (4^th), 45 RBI (9^th) and 22 stolen bases (9^th) to become a legitimate threat in every situation. It was a tight race with several people in the running, most notably William Edwards of the Moose Jaw Miller Express, but it was Skansi who nabbed the most first-place votes.

Second place: Carter Roth (Medicine Hat)
Third place: Tristan Harley (Energy City)

RELIEVER OF THE YEAR – Donovan Gamez, Lethbridge Bulls

Like many of the awards, it felt like the Reliever of the Year could have gone to a few different players. With the Bulls in the race for top spot in the West Division, Donovan Gamez’s game seemed to reach another level. He picked up five straight saves between July 13 and 31 to preserve heavyweight wins against teams like Sylvan Lake (twice), Saskatoon and Regina. When all was said and done, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Texas native went 1-0 with a 1.68 ERA in 15 appearances, picking up eight saves and 24 strikeouts. Ultimately, the voters gave the award to Sylvan Lake Gulls hurler Mickey McClaskey.

Second place: Heath Hachkowski (Brooks)
Third place: Zac Laird (Saskatoon)

COACH OF THE YEAR – Joe Carnahan, Saskatoon Berries

It was clear during the offseason that Joe Carnahan wasn’t messing around with his recruitment. Not only did he keep a few players from an outstanding first season, like Carter Beck and Ethan Menard, but he also picked up massive pieces, such as reigning strikeout leader Klevert Martina from Swift Current, former 57s All-Star Ethan Murdoch, innings-eater Matt Whitney from Fort McMurray and All-Star middle infielder Nathan Houston from Moose Jaw. The result was a record-setting 46-win season, with the Berries falling just short of getting to the WCBL championship to the eventual champion Regina Red Sox. The team’s performance was enough to snag Carnahan his fifth Coach of the Year award and first with the Berries.

Second place: Jason Chatwood, Sylvan Lake Gulls
Third place: Lou Pote, Okotoks Dawgs

PLAYOFF MVP – Brady Bye, Regina Red Sox

Admittedly, I don’t think I had any sway in this decision, but I did want to throw this one into the mix because it’s worth tipping our caps to Brady Bye and the Regina Red Sox on capturing this year’s Harry Hallis Trophy. The team overcame some incredible odds including losing some big-name players midway through the season before having to be the underdogs against the Medicine Hat Mavericks, Saskatoon Berries and Sylvan Lake Gulls to claim their first championship since 2012. Had there been a ballot, the hometown Bye would have been my first place vote in the same way Toronto Blue Jays backstop Pat Borders was named World Series MVP in 1992. Not only did Bye perform well at the plate (.333 with two doubles and a league-leading 10 RBI), but he helped keep the pitching staff calm, cool and collected behind the plate.

Second place: Ayden Page, Regina Red Sox
Third place: Rafael Jackson, Regina Red Sox

HEY NOW … YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR

The league also invited media members to place their votes for the league end-of-season all-star team.

As I was going through my criteria of who I thought deserved spots on the squad, statistics were obviously a big piece of the puzzle.

More than anything, I wanted to focus on the impact of players on their respective teams.

With so many great performances, I knew I was leaving a few really good players off my list, but here’s what I came up with:

Catchers

Brady Bye, Regina Red Sox
Bailyn Sorenson, Saskatoon Berries
Logan Grant, Okotoks Dawgs
Nic Sauve, Fort McMurray Giants

Infielders

Ethan Menard, Saskatoon Berries
Connor Crowson, Okotoks Dawgs
Carter Roth, Medicine Hat Mavericks
Thomas Soto, Moose Jaw Miller Express

Outfielders

Zane Skansi, Okotoks Dawgs
Carter Beck, Saskatoon Berries
William Edwards, Moose Jaw Miller Express
Bernie Socarros, Lethbridge Bulls

Designated Hitters

Ian Heck, Weyburn Beavers
Jack Kalisky, Lethbridge Bulls
Cory Wouters, Saskatoon Berries
Evan Morrison, Medicine Hat Mavericks

Pitchers

Levi Abbott, Lethbridge Bulls
Josh Tucker, Sylvan Lake Gulls
Matt Whitney, Saskatoon Berries
Westin Walls, Moose Jaw Miller Express

Relief Pitchers

Donovan Gamez, Lethbridge Bulls
Luke Laird, Saskatoon Berries
Mickey McClaskey, Sylvan Lake Gulls
Heath Hachkowski, Brooks Bombers

Overall, it was another outstanding season around the WCBL with phenomenal performances almost every night and throughout the summer.

These players and teams once again set the bar high for 2026.