Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast

Episode 30: Medicine Hat Mavericks & Fort McMurray Giants

We are getting closer and closer to the start of the Western Canadian Baseball League season. Over the next few weeks, we'll be bringing you two episodes a week. On Mondays, we will preview the WCBL season with chats with two different teams. This week, we sit down with Greg Morrison of the defending champion Medicine Hat Mavericks and discuss a big move north for new Fort McMurray Giants manager Ray Brown.

Episode 29: Ty Wagar & Myles Creran

The Canadian College Baseball Conference playoffs are this weekend and the three Alberta teams are hoping to bring home the title. It will likely be an emotional weekend for a couple of players. Edmonton Collegiate's Ty Wagar is into his final weekend in college baseball as he heads towards graduation, while the University of Calgary's Myles Creran shares his inspirational story of playing the sport he loves while battling Multiple Sclerosis. We update you on this story we brought you last fall.

Episode 28: Dylan Borman & Jacob Bouzide

What a week it's been for Alberta's baseball products. From Calgary's Mike Soroka starting strong for the Atlanta Braves to a viral walk-off home run from Okotoks' Matt Lloyd, there was no shortage of heroics. One providing those heroics was Camrose native and Prairie Baseball Academy product Dylan Borman, who hit a walk-off grand slam for the University of Arkansas at Monticello. We chatted with him, as well as Dawgs Academy grad Jacob Bouzide, as he is one of the many players from our province who is now playing for Colby Community College.

Episode 27: Andrew Case Retires & Matt Quartel

Andrew Case first garnered attention for a no-hitter at the inaugural T12 tournament, signing with the Toronto Blue Jays. We hear about that story and more from one of his former coaches, Todd Hubka at Prairie Baseball Academy. We also chat with another Albertan making waves in the US college baseball ranks. Prospects Academy grad Matt Quartel is now patrolling the outfield for the Milwaukee Panthers.

Episode 26: The Closers

When you're a reliever, you never know when you're going to get the call to come in from the bullpen. A few Alberta baseball products are making names for themselves south of the border, picking up saves for their respective college teams. Two of those players on the leaderboard are Tanner Jesson-Dalton (Lethbridge) at Sacramento State University and Liam Sabiston (Calgary) at Eastern New Mexico University. We caught up with both earlier this week to talk about their successes. For more on Jesson-Dalton, who we profiled last year, click here.

Episode 25: Amanda Fewer & J.T. Patterson

Baseball is a patient game. Not just for the players but also for photographers looking to snap that perfect image. Amanda Fewer's collection has captured the attention of many, including the Toronto Blue Jays and Okotoks Dawgs. We chat with her about getting into the game and what keeps her motivated. We also sit down with Dawgs Academy product J.T. Patterson to talk about his upbringing and this past weekend's 3-HR, 8-RBI game for Bellevue University.

Episode 24: The Out of Towners

The US college baseball season is well underway and we've been keeping tabs on some of the young Alberta-born talent who are making waves. But there are some players who came from out of this province to train here and are now plying their trade south of the border. A couple of great chats with Dawgs Academy alum Ryan Humeniuk (Manitoba) and Vauxhall Academy alum Josh Burgmann (BC) about their respective paths in baseball.

Episode 23: Scott Richmond & All Things ADS Lately

He has seen and played baseball all over the world. Former Edmonton Cracker-Cat and Toronto Blue Jay Scott Richmond talks about his time in Alberta as well as the importance of family while jetsetting across the globe. We also sit down with Ian Wilson to talk about all things ADS over the last little while, particularly his in-depth piece about baseball stars coming to Alberta in 1934!

Episode 22: Canadian College Baseball Conference

It might be hard to believe, but a new baseball season is just about to get started up here in western Canada. The Canadian College Baseball Conference will see seven teams hitting the field over the next couple of months, including the Prairie Baseball Academy, the University of Calgary Dinos and a brand new Edmonton Collegiate team. We chat with interim league president Kevin Kvame and Edmonton coach Ethan Elias about what's in store for the season. Oh, and there's a little surprise at the end.

Episode 21: Ayden Makarus & TJ Bennett

We start things off talking to one of two Alberta products who will be heading to Florida for the Baseball Canada Junior National Spring Training Camp. Dawgs Academy product Ayden Makarus is hoping it will keep him on the radar of MLB scouts. And we chat with TJ Bennett, a young man born in Alberta but didn't spend a lot of time here, as his dad was a coach with the Lethbridge Mounties.

Episode 20: Iggy's Baseball Connections & St. Joseph Baseball Academy

Jarome Iginla was a world-class hockey player, but he also carried a big stick on the baseball diamond. Ian Wilson chats with childhood friend Bill Russell about Iggy's days in St. Albert. We also continue our #1Thru9 academy profiles with a look at St. Joseph Baseball Academy in Red Deer and a conversation with coach Jason Chatwood.

Episode 19: Bob Elliott

He has garnered the respect of everyone in the Canadian baseball world. We sat down with the highly-acclaimed baseball writer Bob Elliott to talk about how he got into the sport in the first place, some of his favourite memories, and what he would like young Canadian kids to think about as they strive to make it to the big leagues.