Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

We're throwing a bit of a change-up at you this week. Instead of a handful of WCBL-centric guests, we're tapping into the many great storylines in other action around Alberta. Our list of guests this week includes:
2:30 - Fort McMurray's Sydney Barry on helping Alberta win bronze at the Baseball Canada Women's Open Championships in Nova Scotia
14:40 - Parkland Twins head coach Zach Yuzda on winning the Baseball Alberta Elite League championship and heading to Nationals in Fort McMurray
26:50 - Red Deer Riggers veteran Jaret Chatwood on the hoping to win the Sunburst League title and hosting Nationals in a few weeks

It's a pitcher's paradise on this week's edition of the podcast. We sit down with four Western Canadian Baseball League All-Stars including Ty Boudreau of the Sylvan Lake Gulls, Devin Benavides of the Lethbridge Bulls, Dylan Esquival of the Medicine Hat Mavericks and Logan Knight of the Fort McMurray. All have had very different journeys to get to Alberta, and all are enjoying their summers in the WCBL.
Story: WCBL All-Star Game RecapPhoto Gallery: WCBL All-Star Game

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.