Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

Episode #375: Logan Rumberg, Lucas Laukkanen & Les McTavish

What a wild week it's been in the baseball world, highlighted by Canada getting into the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic for the first time ever. We look at all the news and notes from around the baseball world before three great conversations. Dawgs Academy alum Logan Rumberg talks about throwing six innings of a combined no-hitter at George Mason University, Webber Academy grad Lucas Laukkanen gives us the inside scoop on the #3 nationally ranked Cloud County Community College, and Les McTavish joins us to talk about 20 years of Vauxhall Academy baseball.
5:16 - Logan Rumberg
23:46 - Lucas Laukkanen
36:14 - Les McTavish

Episode #374: Tyler Malaka, Rob Allan & Brandon Strocki

We take a bit of a detour this week as we have an entire guest list filled with umpires. Hear from Tyler Malaka as he gets ready to head to the Little League World Series, Rob Allan on some of the work going on behind-the-scenes in the WCBL, and Brandon Strocki looks ahead to how busy the 2026 season is going to be. We also get into each of their individual journeys in the game and more!
6:16 - Tyler Malaka
27:44 - Rob Allan
49:07 - Brandon Strocki

Episode #373: Jacob Gillis, Nathan Yunick & Seamus Lehman

What a crazy week it’s been with plenty of action in MLB Spring Training with ties to our provinces, as well as several player of the week nods in college baseball and new commitments state-side. We have the full rundown in the news, then visit with a trio of newcomers to the show plying their trades south of the border. Hear from Dawgs Academy alum Jacob Gillis (Fergus, Ontario) as he’s off to a great start at Ball State University, then we visit with Martin Academy product Nathan Yunick (Estevan, Saskatchewan) as he’s into his sophomore season at Trinidad State College. And we wrap things up with AHP Academy grad Seamus Lehman (Edmonton, Alberta) as he’s into his first full season as a redshirt sophomore at Fort Scott College.
5:24 – Jacob Gillis
14:06 – Nathan Yunick
26:12 – Seamus Lehman

Episode #372: Landen Bourassa & Eric Rataczak

A pair of Australian Baseball League award winners and Sydney Blue Sox teammates join us on the show this week. Lethbridge Bulls alum Landen Bourassa picked up the top pitcher honours while former Brooks Bombers all-star Eric Rataczak was named the Helms Award recipient as the circuit's most valuable player.
4:30 - Landen Bourassa
26:30 - Eric Rataczak

Episode #371: Turner Zdunich, Hudson Hoy & Kleysen Gabruck

We put the wrap on what's been a busy couple of weeks on the show with a special episode to unofficially kick off the 2026 college baseball season. We welcome three brand new voices to the program who had massive 2025 campaigns. Turner Zdunich (High River/Dawgs Academy) is into his sophomore season at Colby Community College while Hudson Hoy (Spruce Grove/Parkland Twins) is doing the same at Northeastern Junior College. The veteran is Kleysen Gabruch (Martensville/Going Yard Academy), as he gets ready for his first season at Campbellsville University after two successful years at Williston State University.
5:22 - Turner Zdunich
15:16 - Hudson Hoy
28:28 - Kleysen Gabruck

Episode #370: Greg Hamilton, Jordan Procyshen, Adam Macko & Matt Wilkinson

We now know who will represent Canada at the World Baseball Classic. All rosters were unveiled during a special broadcast last Thursday night. Led by manager Ernie Whitt, 21 of the 30 players are either current or former MLB players, with a quartet of pitchers having roots here in Alberta: Michael Soroka, Rob Zastryzny, Adam Macko and Matt Wilkinson. We catch up with Baseball Canada architect Greg Hamilton to talk about the process of building the roster, bullpen catcher and Dawgs alum Jordan Procyshen on going to his second WBC, and the two youngsters - Macko and Wilkinson - talk about their excitement to represent Canada on the international stage.
1:58 - Greg Hamilton
16:47 - Jordan Procyshen
26:33 - Adam Macko
39:39 - Matt Wilkinson

Episode #369: The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2026

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled its Class of 2026 and it’s an excellent group to be celebrated on June 20th in St. Mary’s, Ontario. Jim Baba, Stubby Clapp, Kate Psota, Paul Runge, Bill Stoneman and Devon White make up this year’s class. 

Episode #368: Tyler Hollick, Riley Wolbeck & Nathan Flewelling

With a busy couple of weeks coming up, we're getting this episode out a couple of days early. Hear from Tyler Hollick of the Okotoks Dawgs as they have plenty of construction, roadtrips and "The Road to Okotoks" coming up this season. Then we hear from Baseball Alberta's 15U 'AAA' Player of the Year, Riley Wolbeck, about his journey with Black Gold 47s and much more. And we wrap things up this week with Innisfail native/Red Deer Minor Baseball alum/Sylvan Lake Gulls alum Nathan Flewelling following his first year of pro baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
4:02 - Tyler Hollick
24:49 - Riley Wolbeck
34:20 - Nathan Flewelling

Episode #367: Matt Coutney & Thomas Ireland

We head to the minor leagues for a pair of fantastic conversations this week. Hear from Wetaskiwin's Matt Coutney as he continues to make a name for himself in the Los Angeles Angels system. Then we get to know Regina's Thomas Ireland as he had a breakout season in the Texas Rangers organization. Both are looking forward to the new season and an opportunity to get closer to the big leagues.
4:48 - Matt Coutney
23:44 - Thomas Ireland

Episode #366: Steve Hildebrand, Eric Hartman & Tyler Heineman

It's good to be back! The 2026 season of ADS: The Podcast gets underway in a big way with a trio of fantastic guests. We hear from Steve Hildebrand of the Saskatoon Berries as the team has unveiled plans for an addition to NexGen Patch at Cairns Field. Then Dawgs Academy and Okotoks Dawgs alum Eric Hartman stops by to chat about his first full season of pro baseball in the Atlanta Braves system. And we wrap things up with Toronto Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman as he gets ready to head west for fundraiser event stops in Weyburn and Swift Current.
5:16 - Steve Hildebrand
14:33 - Eric Hartman
30:17 - Tyler Heineman

2026 Podcast Season Announcement

If you thought 2025 was a busy year for baseball in our provinces with all kinds of highlights, we have no doubt that 2026 will be even better. With a wide array of storylines to follow, from the grassroots to the big leagues, we are excited to announce that our coverage on the show will begin with the 2026 season premiere on January 22. So make sure to hit subscribe or like the show on your app so you don't miss a moment of the action. And, as always, a tip of the cap to all of our official supporters for helping tell the game's stories in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We can't wait to see you around the diamond soon!

Episode #365: The 2025 Season Finale

It's finally here! Thank you for your patience as Joe battled through a sickness recently, which led to a delay in the final episode of the 2025 season. He catches us up on all the news from the past couple of weeks (including some personal news courtesy of Baseball Canada) then Ian Wilson stops by for a recap of the recent WCBL annual general meeting. We also hear from league president Kevin Kvame before we get into our highlights of 2025 and a short look-ahead to 2026.