Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

Episode 62: WCBL State of the Union

The Western Canadian Baseball League's annual general meeting generated quite a number of storylines heading into what promises to be a busy off-season. We sit down with league president Kevin Kvame to discuss the summer of 2019, the future of the Yorkton Cardinals and Melville Millionaires, a new ownership strategy with the Brooks Bombers, a new team in Sylvan Lake and much more.

Episode 61: Making Their Pro Debuts

What a summer it was for many baseball players who saw their dream of turning pro come true. For two former Dawgs Academy products, it might have come a little later than expected, but they're certainly happy to be where they're at now. We chat with PEI's Cole MacLaren and Alberta's Matt Lloyd about getting called up and playing at different levels of professional baseball.

Episode 60: Shari Of All Trades

She has traveled all over the world to work on some of the biggest baseball productions. Edmonton's Shari Reiniger joins us to talk about her journeys in the game, the state of the Canadian baseball scene and her love of the Braves (including watching Calgary's Mike Soroka pitch in the MLB playoffs).

Episode 59: Soroka, Sabrowski & Black Sox

Joe and Ian get together again to chat about all that's been going on lately involving Atlanta Braves rising star and Calgary's own Mike Soroka as well as some of the stories we'll be working on as the winter months approach, including some historic pieces on the Black Sox scandal's connection to Alberta and the ten Alberta women who played in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. We also get an update from Edmonton's Erik Sabrowski on how recuperation has gone after he underway Tommy John surgery.

Episode 58: Les McTavish & Max Grant

Imagine: being in high school, flying across the country to play at THE Major League Baseball stadium in Canada: Rogers Centre. Or for some of us, it’s still Skydome. At any rate, since 2013, the Tournament-12 has been held there, showcasing the best talent in our nation and providing coaching from Blue Jays greats like Roberto Alomar, Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield and George Bell, to name just a few. We caught up with Vauxhall Academy coach Les McTavish, who not only coached at T12 again this year but was the manager for Team World at the recent New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series International Week. And one of his pupils at Vauxhall and the T12, Max Grant, joins us to talk about that experience and coming to Alberta from Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Episode 57: Dedicated

The baseball community in our province wouldn't be what it is without the amazing work done by so many. From the players and coaches to the staff members, parents and volunteers, the work doesn't go unnoticed. And in some cases, it leads to a lasting legacy. We chat with St. Albert Minor Baseball Association President Kurtus Millar and long-time Foothills Major Baseball Association member Glen Hansen about having facilities named after them earlier this summer in their respective communities.

Episode 56: Tyler Hollick, Andrew Yusypchuk & Matt Wilkinson

What a year it has been for Dawgs Academy. After posting a 60-12 record including four major tournament wins, the 18U Black squad was named the third-best 18U travel team in North America by Perfect Game. We chatted with Dawgs Academy GM Tyler Hollick to talk about the team and what's to come in Okotoks. We also chatted with pitchers Andrew Yusypchuk and Matt Wilkinson, as they are among the 150 athletes taking part in the annual Tournament-12 in Toronto, showcasing the best young talent in Canada.

Episode 55: A Decade After The Vipers Win Golden League Title

On September 12, 2009, the Calgary Vipers became the first team from the city to claim a professional baseball championship. We chat with Medicine Hat-born slugger Drew Miller and current Okotoks Dawgs and Dawgs Academy coach Joe Sergent about that season and some of their memories of their days in the Golden Baseball League.

Episode 54: Back To School

From elementary and high school to college and university, the kids are back in school. For many Alberta-born athletes, they have headed to their respective schools to get training again for their baseball endeavours. In this episode of #ADSPodcast, we check in with Calgary product Jared Kennedy about graduating this past spring, but he's not straying far from his alma mater. The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball grad was named the Assistant Director of Athletic Performance at Canisius, where he spent the last few seasons playing for the Golden Griffins.

Episode 53: Alberta's Little League World Series Squads

Two Alberta squads had summers to remember as they represented our province and country at their respective Little League World Series events. We chat with Medicine Hat coach Dean Harrison and Lethbridge coach Denny Puszkar about their seasons, going to nationals and then wearing the Maple Leaf.

Episode 52: Sherwood Park Spectacular

It will be baseball for a great cause in Sherwood Park over the next few days, as the World's Longest Game will be held in support of Cure Cancer Foundation. We're joined by founder and organizer Brent Saik to talk about what August 22-25 will bring. And Sherwood Park native Tanner Kirwer stops by to talk about his upbringing, being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 and advice he has for fellow Albertans hoping to make baseball their way of life.

Episode 51: Dawgs Claim WCBL Championship

It has been a long time coming for the Okotoks Dawgs. After a decade of success but no Western Canadian Baseball League championship to show for it, the club went wire-to-wire as one of the league's best teams before knocking off Edmonton, Lethbridge and Regina to claim the 2019 title. Ian Wilson chats with coach David Robb as well as pitchers Brandon Desjardins and Justin Hammergren and Dawgs Academy grad Dane Tofteland about this summer's journey.