By JOE McFARLAND

“Daddy, can we go play baseball?”

Those were the first words from my daughter when I arrived home on Thursday afternoon. She’s not even three years old yet and already had me wrapped around her finger, but somehow those words made my heart even happier.

Just a few days earlier, my almost-five-year-old son put the wraps on his first t-ball season and came home wanting to keep “hitting dingers” in the front yard.

Not long later, his sister joined the party, grabbing a glove and patrolling the “outfield” with a giant smile on her face.

As a fellow “girl dad,” Ian has also enjoyed watching his daughter play the game as she’s grown up. Not because he wanted her to, but because she enjoys it.

It’s those kinds of moments as a parent that help verify what I’ve long believed: if you can see it, you can be it.

And it’s all coming full circle as we’ve celebrated the first Baseball Canada National Girls in Baseball Week.

WE’LL ALWAYS BE ALLIES

When Ian and I started Alberta Dugout Stories eight years ago, one of our commitments was to tell the game’s stories, both male and female.

We’ve been fortunate to share the journeys of many veterans and rising stars over the years, including Nicole Luchanski, Kelsey Lalor, Tara Sliwkanich, Madison Willan, Kaitlyn Ross and many more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Team Alberta Bighorns Baseball (@teamalbertabsb)

When we expanded with Saskatchewan Dugout Stories in 2024, one of our first stories was a feature on Baseball Canada Women’s National Team hurler Amy Johnson.

We’ve also been quick to profile team successes and have been looking to do more stories on female baseball builders, umpires and more as we go forward.

ON A NATIONAL STAGE

As stated during this week’s special Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast, 2025 is already shaping up to be a banner year.

The Baseball Alberta Girls League has grown quickly in the last couple of years, from three original teams to now 18 teams in three divisions.

We also have a litany of big events, including the 19U National Championship at Webber Academy outside Calgary, as well as the 14U Western Nationals in Saskatoon and the Women’s Open Championship in Quebec.

The bigger storyline, though, is for the first time ever, female baseball will have a home at the Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

In speaking with coaches and players from Alberta and Saskatchewan after their respective provincial rosters were unveiled this past week, it’s clear they know they will be making history in mid-August.

“Definitely going to enjoy the moment,” said Team Sask rising star Victoria Bateman. “Just showing up, showing what we got, and trying to inspire others.”

And that’s just the Baseball Canada side, as we know efforts are being made with Little League and other programs to grow the game as well.

THE NEXT GENERATION

Because that’s what it’s about: inspiring the next generation of female athletes to dream big.

Whether it’s any of these events being held in their hometowns, or watching as the Pro Women’s Baseball League launches in 2026, there is something to aspire to now and into the future.

The growth of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the Women’s National Basketball Association, women’s professional soccer, and many other sports should be proof that there’s a genuine interest in growing the games.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Baseball Sask (@baseball_sask)

In the world of baseball, it’s also an opportunity to finally tear down those misconceptions that “boys play baseball and girls play softball.”

And everyone is quick to point out when this is said that it’s not a knock on softball – it’s an understanding that there are options out there.

I would love to see a day where provincial programs are working together to further the game. Bringing in provincial and national team members to coach clinics would do wonders for young athletes wanting to chase baseball dreams. Heck, how about doing Women’s National Team training camps and events in different places every year to expand the footprint?

The possibilities are endless and, as girl dads, we couldn’t be happier.