By JOE McFARLAND

Another move south is in the cards for Ethan Pittman.

The Fort McMurray Minor Baseball Association product has had a jet-setting couple of years playing the game he loves.

From the Canadian Futures Showcase and the Milwaukee Brewers scout team at the Arizona Fall Classic in Peoria to joining Dawgs Academy this past fall, the 18-year-old middle infielder has done everything he could to find a post-secondary landing spot.

That includes helping his hometown Oil Giants claim bronze at the 2025 Baseball Canada 18U National Championships.

Pittman was finally rewarded for his efforts with an offer to go to Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon, where a handful of former Dawgs have also played including Richie Mascarenas and brothers Gavin and Chase Logan.

With an eye towards helping the defending Northwest Athletic Conference champion Roadrunners claim another title when he arrives, Pittman took some time recently to answer a few questions for our first 2026 installment of “1 Thru 9.”

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1. How excited are you to keep the journey going at Linn-Benton?

I am extremely excited to continue my baseball journey at Linn Benton. It’s a great honour to be a Roadrunner and I’m thrilled for the new opportunity to showcase myself and win games at a higher level.

2. What was it about that school that made you go “I want to go there”?

The reason I wanted to go to Linn Benton was how awesome my chats were with coach (Andy) Peterson. He made me feel extremely welcomed and made me eager to want to play there.

3. Looking back on 2025, any favourite memories or moments that stick out to you?

My favourite memories of 2025 definitely have to be around winning bronze at nationals and finishing my last year as an Oil Giant with a medal. I’ll never forget that day and it will be a core memory for me for a long time to come.

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4. That wasn’t the first time you played at a national event in your hometown either as you repped Alberta at the Baseball Canada Cup in 2024 in Fort McMurray. What was that experience like?

You definitely have the crowd on your side when they announce that you’re from Fort Mac. Being in front of my hometown representing Fort Mac and my association along with Team Alberta was a great experience. I really enjoyed it.

5. What did it mean to you to first put on the “A” on the hat and “Alberta” across the chest?

It was a great honour. Playing for Team Alberta was one of my dreams and I got to fulfill it.

6. We always love the origin story. How did you get into baseball in the first place?

My mom just signed up for t-ball and I stuck with it ever since. I played hockey before, but I never really found passion in it. I always enjoyed playing baseball and it quickly became my favourite sport.

7. Was there a moment for you where you realized “yeah, I want to chase this baseball dream”?

I was probably 13 or 14 when I was going to a lot of stuff like Zones and Top 30. I was getting that confidence and realizing I was good enough at this sport and want to take this somewhere and maybe to the collegiate level.

8. You’ve also had the opportunity to play for the hometown Fort McMurray Giants as an affiliate player. What did that mean to you?

It’s pretty fun. The boys in the dugout, they’re always cheering you on because they know you don’t get to go in as much. When the announcer says that you’re from Fort Mac, the crowd definitely gets behind you.

9. For those young kids starting out on their journeys and wanting to get to where you’re at now, do you have any advice or words of wisdom you would like to impart upon them?

All these kids coming up, they just need to have fun. The game’s not meant to be “if you don’t do well, you’re terrible.” It’s a game of failure. If you have fun and confidence, that’s the way you will succeed in the game.