Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

Episode 236: WCBL All-Star Recap Part II

After speaking with several players taking part in the WCBL All-Star Game festivities last week, we wanted to bring you some of the conversations we had with dignitaries and special guests, including John Ircandia of the Okotoks Dawgs, VIP and special guest coach Matt Stairs, Hall of Fame writer Bob Elliott, long-time WCBL supporters and builders Merv Ozirny and Ken Larson, Saskatoon Berries president Steve Hildebrand, and Edmonton Prospects owner Pat Cassidy, who provided us with an update on his team's new home in Spruce Grove.

Episode 235: WCBL All-Star Recap Part I

We take a look back at the 2023 Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game with Home Run Derby champion Hank Dodson of the Sylvan Lake Gulls, runner-up Ethan Murdoch of the Swift Current 57s, game MVP Kalem Haney of the Lethbridge Bulls, Okotoks Dawgs fan favourite Cole Cramer and Moose Jaw Miller Express star Dawson Tweet.

Episode 234: Lou Pote, Torrin Vaselenak & Trent Lawson

We look back at the week that was in Alberta's baseball world and then look ahead to this weekend's WCBL All-Star Game with West Division coach Lou Pote of the Okotoks Dawgs as well as a couple of Alberta products taking to the field with Lethbridge Bulls infielder Torrin Vaselenak (Coaldale) and Weyburn Beavers outfielder Trent Lawson (Calgary).

Episode 233: Ian Wilson, Logan Grant & Jonah Weisner

We have hit the midway point of the Western Canadian Baseball League season, so we thought we'd do a recap of what we've seen and look ahead to the WCBL All-Star Game in Okotoks with Ian Wilson. Then we catch-up with Okotoks Dawgs catcher Logan Grant, who is now a two-time WCBL All-Star, and Sylvan Lake Gulls infielder Jonah Weisner, who has had himself a great first half. As always, we also recap some of the big stories from the week.

Episode 232: Chance Wheatley, Eric Rataczak & Zach Stark

As always, we start off by taking a look back at the week that was, including a special shout-out to a Sherwood Park pitcher who threw a no-hitter over the weekend. Then we recap the last week in the Western Canadian Baseball League and sit down for chats with Lethbridge Bulls coach Chance Wheatley, Brooks Bombers slugger Eric Rataczak and Medicine Hat Mavericks hometown hero Zach Stark.

Episode 231: Jason Chatwood, Quinn Tocheniuk & Max Stagg

We take a look back at the week that was in major baseball news for Alberta, including Matt Coutney's promotion and the Baseball Alberta Women's Team announcement. We also rewind on the WCBL week that was, and chat with Sylvan Lake coach Jason Chatwood, Okotoks pitcher Quinn Tocheniuk and Fort McMurray outfielder Max Stagg.

Episode 230: Mark Goodman, Kalem Haney & Connor Crowson

We take a look back at the week that was with some of the highlights around baseball in Alberta, and are joined for conversations with Medicine Hat Mavericks head coach Mark Goodman, Lethbridge Bulls infielder Kalem Haney and Okotoks Dawgs product Connor Crowson.

Episode 229: Matty Fung, Ryan Kucy and Adam Golby

As we continue getting to know the people around the Western Canadian Baseball League this summer, we have a trio of players joining us this week. Sylvan Lake Gulls utilityman Matty Fung is among the league leaders in batting average and stolen bases, Brooks Bombers infielder Ryan Kucy is off to a great start in his collegiate career, and Medicine Hat Mavericks starter Adam Golby is looking to build off a great rookie campaign that included an All-Star Game nod as a member of the Swift Current 57s.

Episode 228: A Few Familiar Faces

We take a quick look back at the first week of the Western Canadian Baseball League season and some of the early leaders. Then we sit down with Brooks Bombers head coach Ruddy Estrella, Fort McMurray Giants catcher Jordan Bach, and we conclude Ian Wilson's trek to the Okotoks Dawgs' Media Day with quick updates from Ryan McFarland, Brody Forno and Nash Crowell.

Episode 227: Welcome to the WCBL’s Opening Weekend

The 2023 Western Canadian Baseball League season is underway. Over the next few months, ten teams in Alberta and Saskatchewan will battle it out, with the goal of raising the Harry Hallis Trophy in mid-August. You can read the West Division preview story here and the East Division preview story here. Here on the podcast each week during the summer, we’re going to switch things up and endeavour to bring you a handful of coaches, players and surprise guests to give you some variety with each episode. This week, we sit down with Okotoks Dawgs head coach Lou Pote and pitcher Matt Wilkinson, who has some news about his summer plans, as well as reigning WCBL Pitcher of the Year Josh Tucker of the Sylvan Lake Gulls and rookie Lethbridge Bulls outfielder Demitri Shakotko.

Episode 226: Dinos Win 2023 CCBC Championship

For the first time in the program’s history, the University of Calgary Dinos are Canadian College Baseball Conference champions. After posting wins against Thompson Rivers University and Prairie Baseball Academy in the round-robin, they edged the Victoria Golden Tide 7-6 to get themselves into the CCBC final. Given that it’s a double-elimination format, Victoria bounced back with an 11-10 win over PBA to get themselves into the final for a rematch. And what a finale it was in Lethbridge as the Dinos edged the Golden Tide 8-7. We hear from head coach Cam Williams, as well as players Zach Delaquis, Marcus Coderre and Cale Yuzdepski.

Episode 225: Jacob Honke

It all comes down to this. A championship is on the line this weekend in Lethbridge as the Canadian College Baseball Conference season comes to an end. It feels like the regular season just flew by, but the Alberta teams surely made an impact. Prairie Baseball Academy finished on top with a 21-11 record, with the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks and University of Calgary Dinos finishing third and fourth, respectively. But it’s anyone’s game come the final weekend, and one player who can attest to that is Jacob Honke. The EC Hawks infielder is heading into his last collegiate games as he’s set to graduate from the University of Alberta, with an eye on becoming a strength and conditioning coach, something he’s doing already with Taylor Burns at Absolute Human Performance and AHP Academy. Honke, who hails from Red Deer, joined us recently to talk about being a veteran presence heading into championship weekend, the evolution of the Hawks program since he first started, and what it means to have family not only on, but off the field with him.