Feels Like Home

It was a homecoming Max Benton didn’t think he would ever make.

The Lethbridge Bulls starting pitcher toed the rubber at Doug Lehman Field in Oyen for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Rural Roots Classic, where he had done it many times before as a member of the Badlands Baseball Academy.

7th Inning Stretch: Nate Garth

Prairie Baseball Academy will be leaning on a mix of veterans and new faces to pick up their first CCBC World Series title since 2017.

One of those pieces will be first baseman Nate Garth (Calgary), who is having an outstanding freshman campaign.

Lethbridge Bulls 2025 Preview

Fans had plenty of drama and storylines to follow during the 2024 Western Canadian Baseball League season.

Meanwhile, the Lethbridge Bulls were quietly turning in a solid campaign.

After pushing the WCBL champion Okotoks Dawgs to the brink in the playoffs, what can we expect from the Bulls this year?

7th Inning Stretch: Cody Graf

This year feels different to Cody Graf.

The Lloydminster native is into his third season with Prairie Baseball Academy and believes this is the year the program can return to its Canadian College Baseball Conference championship ways.

Season Preview: Canadian College Baseball Conference

For the first time since the pre-season coaches poll began in 2022, Okanagan College isn’t entering the season at the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) favourite.

The University of Fraser Valley is coming off their first CCBC title since 2019 and hold down top spot.

All three Alberta teams will be looking to unseat them heading into 2025.

Hall for Hubs

Todd Hubka is the ultimate team guy.

He’s never afraid to boast about the players on his current Prairie Baseball Academy roster, looking ahead to his upcoming recruiting class, or beam about how proud he is of the hundreds of alumni players that have come through the program.

Hubka isn’t a big fan of talking about himself, which was put to the test when he was inducted to the PBA Hall of Fame.

7th Inning Stretch: Josh Kabayama

Josh Kabayama has seen it all with the Lethbridge Bulls.

Entering his fourth year with the WCBL team, he’s won a championship and he’s also missed the playoffs.

Nothing, though, could have prepared him for what he saw June 4 against Brooks.

Lethbridge Bulls 2024 Season Preview

The Lethbridge Bulls have plenty to celebrate this year.

With 2024 marking the 25th anniversary of the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) franchise, the team has a lot planned to promote the ball club and recognize its proud history.

Part of that history includes opening up Alberta to the circuit and setting the league on a path from the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) to the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL), the predecessor of the WCBL.

The Bulls will look to convert that trailblazing history into modern-day success in 2024.

1 Thru 9: Owen Lucas

It’s hard to believe that Owen Lucas is just a year removed from thinking his collegiate baseball career was over.

Having returned home to Ontario after trying to make it onto the Prairie Baseball Academy roster, he fully expected to start his non-sports life.

However, some summer baseball reignited his passion for the game and he’s taking full advantage of the opportunity in 2024.

1 Thru 9: Zaden Wake

“Unfinished business” is a common theme you hear in speaking with those around Prairie Baseball Academy.

Winnipeg’s Zaden Wake is among the veterans who believes this year’s edition of the Dawgs is the one to finally bring another CCBC championship back to Lethbridge.