Season in the Balance

There have been a lot of questions surrounding the upcoming summer baseball season in Alberta, across this country and around the world. Will it happen? Can we have a shortened campaign? How willing are players and fans to take part?

Those questions and more have been hanging over the head of Kevin Kvame. Over the last few weeks, the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) president has been trying to stay on top of all of the COVID-19 developments.

We spoke with Kvame about the current status of the WCBL.

Don’t Stop Believin’

February 16th will always mean something to Lethbridge’s Landen Bourassa.

In 2019, it was the day his elbow “came apart” while pitching in his first game of the season.

In 2020, it was the day he returned to the University of San Francisco Dons roster after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

2020 Vision

Despite a summer that pretty much didn’t happen weather-wise, the Western Canadian Baseball League is touting it as a success.

Now all eyes are on the future, starting with a 2020 season that will feature two fewer teams.

As league president Kevin Kvame told us, 2021 will also be a season of change with expansion coming to Alberta.

2019 WCBL Award Winners

The Western Canadian Baseball League recently announced their 2019 award winners and all-star teams.

Here’s a look at the people who were recognized for their outstanding achievements in the 12-team WCBL, which calls Alberta and Saskatchewan home.

Let the Big Dawg Eat

“You win it.”

Visitors to Seaman Stadium may have become familiar with this phrase over the last two summers. Those seated close enough to the home dugout could hear Mitch Schmidt, the head coach of the Okotoks Dawgs, bark this motto to his charges dozens of times each game.

The spirited slogan was often used as encouragement to achieve a seemingly small task – you win an at bat, you win by stealing a bag on the base paths, you win by getting a bunt down, you win by inducing a ground ball, you win by punching through a third strike, you win by making a routine defensive play in the field.

After piling up all those little victories over the course of the 2019 Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) season, the Dawgs claimed the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy with an 8-6 victory over the Regina Red Sox on Aug. 16th and will enter next year as the defending champions.

7th Inning Stretch: Jaden Griffin

One of the harsh realities of any baseball season is that players may not get a chance to finish the campaign and help their teammates when they need them most.

For pitchers at the Major League Baseball (MLB) level, they may have innings limits or be forced to sit out due to injury.

Such is the case for lefty hurler Jaden Griffin, who recently wrapped up his season with the Lethbridge Bulls. He is the subject of our most recent 7th Inning Stretch feature.

7th Inning Stretch: Ashton Roy

They say that home is where the heart is.

As it turns out, Ontario’s Ashton Roy is feeling pretty good about his second home here in Alberta.

He moved here in 2015 and talks to us in our latest 7th Inning Stretch about the move, this province and the “Major League” character he channels in the clubhouse.

Lethbridge Bulls Season Preview

Thanks to the Medicine Hat Mavericks, the Lethbridge Bulls were seeing red at the end of the 2018 season.

That red came courtesy of the rose-coloured caps and uniforms of Medicine Hat, who eliminated Lethbridge 3-1 in a five-game playoff series that saw the Mavs outscore the Bulls by 18 runs over four games.

Despite the frustrating finish, there were plenty of bright spots in the Lethbridge lineup.

Borman’s Bomb

It is every baseball player’s dream.

Stepping into the batter’s box in the bottom of the final inning and a chance to win it all with one swing of the bat.

Camrose baseball product Dylan Borman provided his own heroics for the University of Arkansas at Monticello earlier this spring and talked to Alberta Dugout Stories about it.

Aussies in Alberta

Baseball’s popularity across the world is rising. With players from all over the world getting an opportunity to play in the MLB, it comes as no surprise that some of that talent is finding its way to the Western Major Baseball League.

In particular, two Australians called Alberta their home for the summer. Edmonton’s Michael Gahan and Lethbridge’s Lachlan Mayo made names for themselves in different ways over the past couple of years in our province.