By JOE McFARLAND

Who has the top high school baseball academy program in Canada?

With some of the top academies in Alberta going toe-to-toe to open up their respective seasons on home turf over the weekend, it’s a question that has once again been raised.

The debate has also intensified as more schools pop up from coast-to-coast, leading Jason Dickson to wonder if it’s time to settle some scores.

After numerous conversations and debates, the Baseball Canada CEO says it’s time to explore the idea of an Academy National Championship.

It’s one of many interesting pieces included in the organization’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which was released in November 2023.

“I think there is an appetite for that academy versus academy type of championship – I know there is,” Dickson told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “There has been a lot of discussion around it.”

While a number of issues would have to be sorted out, he says he sees the potential in helping some of the best baseball players in the country face each other more often and on a bigger stage.

The discussion has also piqued the interest of those involved in Alberta academies, as it might provide a way to determine provincial supremacy.

CAN I SEE SOME I.D.?

To be eligible for Baseball Canada championships, players must be in the right age group but also be born in the province they are representing.

It has left some academy teams out of the mix for national titles, because they can recruit from anywhere, including internationally.

Okotoks Dawgs Academy general manager Tyler Hollick says many of the players in academies already know each other through their involvement with the Junior National Team or the Canadian Futures Showcase, as well as their connections through social media, and he says there is potential.

“For them to get together for a week or whatever it would be and go play in a tournament to see who wins it, I think it would be a fun opportunity for them and a good week of competition,” he said.

“I think what the academies are doing nation-wide is really good for baseball in Canada, to continue pushing players to face the highest level of competition if the ultimate goal is to play college and/or professionally.”

‘24 1B/RHP Benito Bonilla
6-4, 230Ibs@DawgsAcademy

Bonilla drives a ball deep over the LCF wall for a HR.

As physical as they come, one of the top 2024s in the country.@MSUBearBaseball commit@BenitoBonilla_1 || #BeSeen🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/T5hMSTEQ3y
— Prep Baseball Alberta (@PrepBaseballAB) April 14, 2024

AHP Academy founder and president Taylor Burns also likes the national championship idea, but believes structural changes would need to be made.

“For it to work, the organizations under the Baseball Canada umbrella would need an overhaul to allow academies into their leagues,” Burns said. “Or they could create a separate league with no borders or transfer rules.”

Timing for a championship would also be a challenge, according to Vauxhall Academy of Baseball coach Les McTavish, who adds travel costs would also have to be considered.

“Summer doesn’t really work,” he said about the athletes being done school in June.

“April or May could potentially work, but that might end up replacing spring trips that teams usually have.”

‘24 OF Eric Reiling
5-10, 180Ibs@VABjets

Reiling drives one over the RF for a double.@SHUbaseballMI commit@eric_reiling || #BeSeen🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/uVuBCfwZOG
— Prep Baseball Alberta (@PrepBaseballAB) April 14, 2024

McTavish adds having the Blue Jays jump on board and potentially provide Rogers Centre as a venue could be an interesting incentive for teams, as well as a lead-in to the annual Canadian Futures Showcase.

While it would also be fun in the eyes of all three to host an event like an Academy National Championship, they say it’s a snapshot of the work that goes on year-round.

“It might be cliche but it’s not about the trophy or putting our name on anything,” Hollick said. “It’s about our kids and putting them in the best position to succeed as we’re really big on preparing our kids academically and athletically on and off the field for college baseball.”

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Dickson says he’s heard these kinds of concerns before but sees it all as an opportunity for everyone to talk about the true growth of baseball in Canada.

He says, like any sport, there is a constant battle in attracting and retaining the best athletes, as they likely have offers to train in the U.S. or go to other sports.

“There is a role for Baseball Canada to be maybe the conductor of all of this,” Dickson said.

“We can kind of guide some people or at least make sure the opportunities are clean and that our athletes get the chance to be the best that they can be.”

It’s also a part of a much larger discussion about how to grow Canada’s standing in the international baseball world.

One of the goals outlined in the new strategic plan is to move up the World Baseball Softball Confederation rankings, where Canada sits 7^th in women’s baseball and 16^th in men’s baseball.

Canadian finishes 2023 seventh in Women's WBSC/KONAMI World baseball rankingshttps://t.co/NOtKkiUe87 @WBSC @BaseballCANWNT
— The Canadian Baseball Network (@CDNBaseballNet) January 1, 2024

While having baseball back in the Olympics will help Canada earn more points for the standings, there are other levels the country is missing out on.

“We have a bit of a challenge in that our belief in Canada is around long-term athlete development and that doesn’t necessarily fit with creating an under-12 international team and competing,” Dickson said.

“But we’re measured by having an under-12 team and we currently don’t have one and not participating in those events makes us lose points and our international standing goes down.”

In an effort to potentially move up a few more spots, Baseball Canada is also looking to explore the creation of national U15 and U23 teams.

Dickson says it could potentially create a more succinct pipeline of athletes towards the Men’s National Team, while giving everyone at the grassroots level opportunities to get exposure nationally.

“Get everybody playing baseball and, through the masses, the excellence will rise to the top,” he said. “You need a good solid base and you have to give every opportunity to every player who has an interest in playing the game and who knows … you never know where you will get your best players from.”

BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER

Dickson believes baseball is at an interesting place in Canada right now.

He says more kids are playing the game as community demographics change and other sports like hockey (costs and culture) and football (health and safety) face challenges.

Meantime, the infrastructure and coaching has improved immensely over the years, but he says you need more of both to handle the surge of new athletes suiting up.

Additionally, expectations continue to rise from athletes and families looking at the quality of programs and understanding the potential outcomes like collegiate or professional baseball careers.

Looking towards the future, we’re thrilled to share our Strategic Plan for 2023-2028!

More ➡️ https://t.co/gR6l2YG5Hy

En regardant vers l'avenir, nous sommes ravis de partager notre Plan stratégique pour 2023-2028!

Plus ➡️ https://t.co/rtREuHd0cg

🇨🇦⚾️ pic.twitter.com/naCzCWzCN7
— Baseball Canada 🇨🇦⚾️ (@baseballcanada) November 16, 2023

Dickson says it’s worth having a conversation to get everyone on the same page about how community associations and academies can supplement each other instead of existing in perceived competition.

He’s keeping an open mind to all of the possibilities with the goal in mind of achieving everything in the new strategic plan.

There’s also the potential to have some fun with some new ideas, like an academy national championship.

“I just think in the spirit of competition, I think some of those academies would like to tackle each other and see who is the best,” Dickson said. “I think it would make for a really good product and it’s something I would be interested in, for sure.”