Funderstruck

A two-way star with the Okotoks Dawgs and Edmonton Prospects has made his Major League Baseball debut in stellar fashion.

2017 Western Major Baseball League MVP Kody Funderburk pitched two perfect innings – including three strikeouts – with the Minnesota Twins on August 28.

Short Stop in Saskatchewan

You could call it glove at first sight.

Western Canadian baseball fans may not have realized it at the time, but they were watching the best defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith take the field.

That summer of 2009, a scrawny 19-year-old kid from the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao made his way to the city of 15,000 people in Saskatchewan to suit up for the Yorkton Cardinals at Jubilee Park.

Majestic moonshots were not his calling card, and if you skipped batting practice you could still witness something special from Andrelton Simmons.

Tooning Up For the Big Leagues

From Saskatchewan to Seattle, Marco Gonzales always managed to take his game to the next level.

The 28-year-old is one of the more notable alumni of the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL), and after signing a four-year, $30-million contract extension with the Mariners in 2020, the reliable left-handed pitcher should be memorable to those who follow the summer collegiate circuit.

In The Cards: 2018 Medicine Hat Mavericks

The Medicine Hat Mavericks were the last champions of the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) in 2018. The league has since become the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) and last year it ushered in a new reigning champ in the Okotoks Dawgs.

During this edition of In The Cards, we take a closer look at that title-winning Mavs team, which posted a 38-9 regular-season record. Offensively, Medicine Hat led the league in runs, hits, runs batted in (RBI), on-base percentage, walks and batting average. They also placed close to the top of the WMBL in several pitching categories.

Coaching Duo Leaving Prospects

The Edmonton Prospects will have a new look in the dugout next year, as the coaching duo of Ray Brown and Orv Franchuk is moving on.

But the experienced skipper tandem may not be away from the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) for very long.

The Prospects announced the resignation of Brown, the team’s head coach, and Franchuk, the director of baseball development, on Sept. 12th after contract discussions with owner Patrick Cassidy broke down.

1 Thru 9: Reed Odland

Reed Odland made the most of his opportunities in the Medicine Hat Mavericks lineup this season.

As back-up to all-star Colton Wright, Odland put up solid numbers for the deep Mavs squad.

The 18-year-old recently answered the call for 1 Thru 9.

1 Thru 9: Mat Brisson

The rivalry between the Edmonton Prospects and Okotoks Dawgs once again hit a fever pitch in the playoffs.

The Prospects have taken full advantage of the “underdog” tag and one player happy to indulge on social media was Mat Brisson.

The right-hander sat down earlier this season to dish on everything for “1 Thru 9.”

1 Thru 9: Danny Donnelly

It’s been quite the journey for Okotoks Dawgs’ outfielder Danny Donnelly.

Donnelly – who played 32 games for the Dawgs this season, recording two home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs over 61 regular season at bats – grew up in Okotoks. He patrolled the berm in left field as a fan, along with his father Pat, while his mother Marlene served as the Dawgs’ academic advisor.

He would later hustle around the infield as a bat boy for his beloved hometown team and join the Dawgs Academy.

He recently made time for our “1 Thru 9” series and here’s what the right-handed batter had to say.

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.

1 Thru 9: Damian Rodriguez

The Brooks Bombers had high expectations for Damian Rodriguez when he arrived from Laredo, TX this summer.

He’s proving everyone right with solid play and even a move in the batting order.

Rodriguez was the latest to answer the tough questions in our series “1 Thru 9.”