Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

Episode 291: Ava Greiner, Zac Foden & The Rest of the Saskatchewan Trip

Time to get back into some sense of normalcy! After having a couple of episodes each week for the last couple of weeks, we are going back to our weekly episodes (for now anyways). This week, we try to put the wraps on the news side of things in what's been a busy little while. Then we sit down with Baseball Alberta product and Women's National Team invitee Ava Greiner (Stettler) to talk about the World Cup roster tryout, we sit down with Dawgs Academy pitcher and Canadian Futures Showcase invitee Zac Foden (Edmonton) and we put the wraps on Ian's family trip to Saskatchewan with visits from Austin Gurney (Moose Jaw Miller Express), Brody Alexandre (Swift Current 57s), Oakland Flodell (Saskatoon Berries) and Mike Singleton (Saskatoon Berries).
5:07 - Ava Greiner
17:01 - Zac Foden
30:01 - Austin Gurney
36:02 - Brody Alexandre
40:20 - Oakland Flodell
46:24 - Mike Singleton

Episode 290: Alberta's Influence on the 2024 MLB Draft

The 2024 MLB Draft might be one for the record books in Alberta. For the first time since 2015, an Albertan was taken in the first three rounds of the draft (Nathan Flewelling) while a total of five Albertans were taken in the 20 rounds, something that hasn't happened since 2011. We break down the numbers, then chat with three Albertans, a Canadian who trained here and an American whose career was resurrected by coming to our province.
2:42 - Nathan Flewelling
9:20 - Cohen Achen
17:05 - Owen Pote
26:58 - Micah McDowell
34:06 - Eric Rataczak

Episode 289: 2024 WCBL Home Run Derby & All-Star Game Part II

After spending last episode focusing on the players involved in the 2024 Western Canadian Baseball League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, this episode focuses on the state of the league through the various conversations had during the broadcast for the game. Thanks to HomeTeam Live for allowing us to use the audio from those interviews, which include:
1:36 - WCBL President Kevin Kvame
12:20 - Okotoks Dawgs GM Tyler Hollick
18:33 - Regina Red Sox VP Al Simpson
24:47 - Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew
29:26 - Saskatoon Berries President Steve Hildebrand
35:32 - WCBL Managing Director of Corporate Sponsorships & Marketing Mark Stiles
45:16 - Canadian baseball legend Matt Stairs

Episode 288: 2024 WCBL Home Run Derby and All-Star Game Part I

Have yourself a day, Carter Beck! The Saskatoon Berries slugger was the star of the 2024 WCBL Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, finished second in the Derby to Fort McMurray's Peyton McDowall before going 3-for-3 with two RBI to help the East Division to the 13-6 win over the West Division. Beck, who is from Carnduff, Saskatchewan, was named the Game MVP. In the first of a trio of new podcast episodes this week, we chatted with several players representing their teams at the All-Star Game festivities at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks.
1:45 - Carter Beck - Saskatoon Berries
4:50 - Peyton McDowall - Fort McMurray Giants
7:19 - Cooper Ciesielski - Sylvan Lake Gulls
10:45 - Jackson Syring - Regina Red Sox
15:44 - Colton Anderson - Regina Red Sox
20:58 - Ian Heck - Weyburn Beavers
26:36 - Nathan Houston - Moose Jaw Miller Express
29:26 - Antony Gilbert - Brooks Bombers
32:06 - Tucker Zdunich - Okotoks Dawgs
 

Episode 287: Aidan Rose, Cory Wouters, Takao Cookson, Marcus Graham & Jamie Campbell

It's an action-packed episode of the podcast as we have five guests joining us this week as well as a new sponsor announcement and a contest to win a Michael Soroka autographed baseball. Joe sits down with long-time Okotoks Dawgs infielder Aidan Rose while Ian takes us along for his family trip through Saskatchewan to chat with Cory Wouters of the Saskatoon Berries, Takao Cookson of the Moose Jaw Miller Express and Marcus Graham of the Swift Current 57s. We wrap up the episode back in Medicine Hat where Ian caught up with Sportsnet broadcaster Jamie Campbell.
4:39 - Aidan Rose
21:05 - Cory Wouters
27:30 - Takao Cookson
33:59 - Marcus Graham
41:11 - Jamie Campbell

Episode 286: The Canada Day Extravaganza

Both Joe and Ian found themselves on the road for Canada Day to take in games in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, respectively. Joe chatted with Bulls head coach Myles Fletcher (Lethbridge, AB) about being an original member of the LA Bulls and marking the team's 25th anniversary, utilityman Carlin Dick (Abbotsford, BC) about his season so far, and Sylvan Lake Gulls hurler Hunter Jones (Edmonton, AB) about his outstanding start. Then Ian stops by for conversations with Medicine Hat Mavericks stars Nick Thibodeau (Burlington, ON) and Tyler Vanneste (Warman SK) about their respective baseball journeys.
5:40 - Myles Fletcher
10:50 - Carlin Dick
16:16 - Hunter Jones
24:13 - Nick Thibodeau
33:16 - Tyler Vanneste

Episode 285: Richie Borysewicz of Bow Ridge Little League, Nash Crowell & Lachie Smith

We've been meaning to chat with Richie Borysewicz for a while now following this spring's Jays Care "Field of Dreams" funding announcement for Bow Ridge Little League to upgrade the Tuscany Diamonds in Calgary. We finally had that conversation this week about the plans and what's to come. We also sat down with Okotoks Dawgs slugger Nash Crowell about the brutal pitch to the face he took with Reinhardt University and his return to the WCBL, and we meet Australian Lachie Smith, who is getting his first taste of collegiate baseball with the Edmonton Prospects before he heads to Odessa College in the fall.
8:11 - Richie Borysewicz
20:44 - Nash Crowell
35:33 - Lachie Smith

Episode 284: Julianna Scott, Owen Pote & Noah McNeil

Plenty of news to get to, including the naming of the Baseball Canada Women's National Team Selection Camp roster, which includes six Albertans. We sit down with Julianna Scott to talk about her selection and what it'd mean to represent the maple leaf. We also chat with Sylvan Lake Gulls pitcher Owen Pote about his dad, Lou, and playing with AHP Academy, while Lethbridge Bulls catcher Noah McNeil drops by to talk about that crazy 31-26 win over Brooks, playing for Prairie Baseball Academy and more.
4:34 - Julianna Scott
16:38 - Owen Pote
30:04 - Noah McNeil

Episode 283: Zander Bretza, Kenny Jinks & Graham Brunner

It's been a fun-filled few weeks around the WCBL ball diamonds with records being set and great performances galore. We check in with a trio of veterans for their perspectives and journeys in baseball. Hear from Brooks Bombers infielder Zander Bretza, Swift Current 57s pitcher Kenny Jinks and Okotoks Dawgs southpaw Graham Brunner on this week's episode of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.
4:13 - Zander Bretza
19:18 - Kenny Jinks
36:47 - Graham Brunner

Episode 282: Josh Kabayama, Will Bomersbach & Joe Ellison

We get through a ton of news (including a few long-awaited shout-outs to Albertans playing independent pro ball) and then get to the big story of the week: that insane 31-26 wind-driven game between the Lethbridge Bulls and Brooks Bombers. We check in on both sides of the field with Bulls veteran Josh Kabayama and Bombers catcher Will Bomersbach. Our final guest is another check in with a coach around the WCBL, with this one being Fort McMurray Giants skipper Joe Ellison.
6:17 - Josh Kabayama
27:50 - Will Bomersbach
49:08 - Joe Ellison

Episode 281: Jordan Blundell, Nathan Flewelling, Benito Bonilla & Eric Machej

We have a fantastic show lined up for you with great guests and tons of news to get to. We recap the week with the headlines then catch up with Edmonton Prospects head coach Jordan Blundell about the team's return and what he expects this summer, then we're joined by a trio of prospects who hope to make an impact in the WCBL. Innisfail product and Sylvan Lake Gulls catcher Nathan Flewelling has had a whirlwind few months, while Dawgs Academy products Benito Bonilla and Eric Machej checked in with our Ian Wilson during the Okotoks Dawgs media day prior to the season.
7:40 - Jordan Blundell
26:42 - Nathan Flewelling
38:10 - Benito Bonilla
43:10 - Eric Machej

Episode 280: The WCBL Season Preview Extravaganza

The 2024 Western Canadian Baseball League season is finally here. 12 teams will be vying for the right to hoist the Harry Hallis Trophy in the middle of August, 7 in Alberta and 5 in Saskatchewan. There are plenty of storylines to get to heading into the season, including the potential of a three-peat for the Okotoks Dawgs, the entrance of the brand new Saskatoon Berries, the return of the Edmonton Prospects, the international flavour of some of the rosters and the youth movement where plenty of local talent will be looking to leave their mark on the league. We have five conversations to kick off the 2024 summer season!
0:55 - ADS co-founder and chief writer Ian Wilson
14:53 - WCBL president Kevin Kvame on new baseballs
23:46 - Saskatoon Berries head coach Joe Carnahan
35:09 - Okotoks Dawgs utilityman Logan Grant
45:31 - Medicine Hat Mavericks veteran Brody Gardner