Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

Episode #325: Matthew Ridsdale & Alex Jensen

We put the wraps on a really busy week of baseball action at virtually every level, then sit down for a chat with Edmonton Collegiate Hawks hurler Matthew Ridsdale after he racked up the program’s first-ever no-hitter this past weekend against TRU as well as his journey in the game. Then we catch up with former Okotoks Dawgs hurler Alex Jensen, who has forged a career in baseball broadcasting, with his latest stop coming as a voice of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox.
6:58 – Matthew Ridsdale
 24:43 – Alex Jensen

Episode #324: The MLB Opening Day Spectacular

It's here! It's finally here! MLB Opening Day is today (Thursday) so we take the opportunity to talk to some of our insiders about the Alberta products down south who are looking to be difference-makers in 2025. Our Ian Wilson stops by for an all-encompassing chat including who might be next in line, then Jeff Peach at Webber Academy takes a look at Calgary's Michael Soroka after an offseason spent training in his facility. We also hear from Taylor Burns at Absolute Human Performance after St. Albert's Erik Sabrowski did the same in their new digs. And we wrap things up with Lou Pote of the Okotoks Dawgs and Dawgs Academy, who brings a unique perspective as he had a few Opening Day memories, including one with all the goosebumps in his hometown of Chicago.
5:17 - Ian Wilson
28:36 - Jeff Peach
46:43 - Taylor Burns
59:08 - Lou Pote

Episode #323: The 2025 CCBC Season Preview Extravaganza

It's Opening Weekend for the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) season and it also marks the circuit's 25th anniversary. Just like last year, we have you covered with a look-ahead to what the spring will bring for the three Alberta teams. You can also read our season preview here. We'll hear from The Battery Media's Logan Wedgewood again as he dissects the upcoming year and what he sees as some of the top storylines going in. Then we hear from a player on each of the Alberta teams: Jake Roggensack (Wainwright) of the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks, Cody Graf (Lloydminster) of Prairie Baseball Academy and Ethan Webster (White Rock, B.C.) of the University of Calgary Dinos.
4:31 - Logan Wedgewood
30:49 - Jake Roggensack
48:01 - Cody Graf
58:22 - Ethan Webster

Episode #322: Ryan Kwasnycia, Kai Rempel & Leo Griffin

We have a trio of US college freshmen who are looking to make big first impressions. Ryan Kwasnissia of AHP Academy and Stony Plain is at Pratt Community College, Webber Academy and Calgary native Kai Rempel is with Cloud County Community College, and Dawgs Academy grad Leo Griffin is lighting it up with Hutchinson Community College. We discuss their respective journeys in the game and what they hope to accomplish this season.
4:10 - Ryan Kwasnycia
18:21 - Kai Rempel
35:29 - Leo Griffin

Episode #321: The Return of Jamie Campbell

Our guest this week really doesn’t need an introduction. Jamie Campbell has been the host of Blue Jays Central on Sportsnet for years now. He’s also a former Alberta broadcaster, having worked in Edmonton during the 1990’s. We first chatted with him back on Episode #85 of the show, which was during the pandemic and he was making phone calls to long-time baseball fans who were yearning for a chance to watch their favourite team again. Since then, he’s made a trek back here to catch a few WCBL games, is coming to Weyburn for their 2025 Sports Dinner with John Axford on March 15th and, as it turns out, he’s turned into a life-long fan.

Episode #320: Remembering Foothills Stadium

It's been a long time coming, but Foothills Stadium is finally being torn down. The home of the Calgary Cardinals, Expos, Cannons, Outlaws, Vipers, Bucks, Dinos and Dawgs (who later moved to Okotoks) has been the planned site for the city's new fieldhouse project for years. With a blast of warm February weather, three excavators started tearing down the stands, dugouts and guts of the former Burns Stadium. Joe McFarland and Ian Wilson discuss their thoughts on the past and future of the site as well as baseball in Calgary. Ian also shares an interview he did with former Cannons owner Russ Parker, who happened to be snapping photos of the tear-down when Ian made his first visit to the site.

Episode 319: Indian Head Rockets & Amber Valley Baseball Team

We commemorate Black History Month by paying tribute to two Western Canadian teams known for their skill, style and swagger. The Indian Head Rockets and Amber Valley Baseball Team entertained thousands of fans every time they hit the field. We’ll hear from Home Runs and Dirt Roads author, and Indian Head Museum's Robyn Jensen about the Rockets’ legacy, as well as author Chris L. Butler about his love of Negro Leagues history and fascination with Amber Valley.
6:21 - Robyn Jensen
38:41 - Chris L. Butler

Episode 318: Austin Collins, Willis Simair & Mike Steed

We make our way through a lengthy list of news items then welcome a trio of great guests to the show. We start things off with Dawgs Academy hurler and Central Arizona College commit Austin Collins. Then we head east to Going Yard Academy where pitcher Willis Simair has committed to Garden City Community College. And we wrap up the show with long-time coach Mike Steed, who is now the pitching coach with the Atlanta Braves' new Double-A affiliate in Columbus. He was through Fort McMurray in January for a coaching clinic and we thought it would be great getting to know his baseball journey.
4:37 - Austin Collins
18:49 - Willis Simair
35:14 - Mike Steed

Episode 317: The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025

We're proud to bring you a very special edition of the show this week as we celebrate the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025. Toronto Blue Jays great Jose Bautista headlines this year's class along with former big leaguer Erik Bedard, Junior National Team head coach Greg Hamilton and former Women's National Team great Amanda Asay. The Hall's Veteran's Committee also selected Saskatchewan native and All-American Girls Professional League star Arleene Noga and former Montreal city councillor Gerry Snyder. The ceremony is set for June 7. Hear from Bautista and Hamilton as well as family members of Asay, Noga and Snyder in a conference call held on Feb. 12.
1:16 - Jose Bautista
8:04 - Greg Hamilton
12:18 - Amanda Asay's parents Loris and George
21:09 - Arleene Noga's daughter Carol Lee (Noga) Scott
24:23 - Gerry Snyder's daughter Arlene Kenrick and son Gary Snyder

Episode 316: Kingston Besuijen, Tanner Morrow & Tanner Spencer

It's been a busy week for baseball in Alberta, so plenty of storylines to pass your way in the news. Then we have a trio of great conversations to get you into the weekend. We have a pair of high school players who will soon be going to college in Dawgs Academy product Kingston Besuijen (College of San Mateo) and Red Deer Minor Baseball/St. Joseph Academy product Tanner Morrow (University of Pikeville). Then we wrap things up with Craik, Saskatchewan native and Vauxhall Academy alum Tanner Spencer, who is now the head coach at the University of Mary.
4:12 - Kingston Besuijen
14:13 - Tanner Morrow
29:19 - Tanner Spencer

Episode 315: A Tribute to New PBA Hall of Famer Todd Hubka

This is a special edition of the show that we are dropping on this Tuesday as, over the weekend, Prairie Baseball Academy held its annual banquet and celebration of baseball. It was also a night to honour a Southern Alberta baseball legend. Todd Hubka has been with the program going on 28 years now and is now entering the 15th season as head coach. He helped guide them to seven-straight CCBC championships and has a career .580 winning percentage. For all that, he was this year’s lone induction to the PBA Hall of Fame. 
1:28 - Les McTavish
13:10 - Ryan MacDonald
25:50 - Todd Hubka

Episode 314: Stubby Clapp

He is a Canadian baseball legend and the first base coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. We are, of course, talking about Stubby Clapp. A true “Mr. Hustle” for Canada for years, he made it to the MLB with a 23-game stint in 2001 with the Cards. The 11-year pro’s final two years came here in Alberta with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats in 2005-2006 (including the infamous brawl against the Calgary Vipers) before he went into coaching. He’s been on the Canadian Olympic Team, two World Baseball Classics, and was a key piece of that amazing 2015 Gold Medal performance at the Pan Am Games. For all his accomplishments, Clapp was inducted to the Baseball Canada Wall of Excellence on January 11. The Windsor, Ontario native spent some time with us recently to discuss his journey, his memories of Edmonton and what it meant to be recognized by Baseball Canada.