Posts in Alberta Dugout Stories
McFarland: Dream come true for Dawgs’ Thierman to play for Junior National Team

“Getting a call from Greg Hamilton at Baseball Canada is a pretty good reason to be late for class.

Already running behind, Taye Thierman was walking the halls at Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks about to walk into class when his phone started ringing.

Even with Alberta’s new cell phone policies in place, the Dawgs Academy product couldn’t help but look at the phone as he knew the Hamilton was making phone calls for the upcoming Junior National Team’s trip to the Dominican Fall Instructional League camp.”

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McFarland: Hard-working Tetreault commits to Cloud County

“Miguel Tetreault couldn’t help but smile as he glanced around Legacy Dodge Field.

Playing in Team Alberta’s first game of the 2024 Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, the starting shortstop was living every Canadian baseball player’s dream of representing their province on home turf.

While Alberta fell 3-0 to Manitoba in the opener on their way to a sixth-place finish in the national championship, Tetreault says he will never forget the emotions of the opener.

“That first pitch, I was looking up in the crowd and it was a surreal moment,” the infielder told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “Playing in front of friends and family, it was definitely a blessing to represent not only my hometown but my home province, too.”

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McFarland: Dawgs’ Poirier headed to Miami

"After seeing all that Western Canada has to offer, Max Poirier is ready for something different.

In fact, the young hurler is heading to the opposite coast to continue his baseball journey.

After living and playing the game in Canada’s three western-most provinces – suiting up in some major tournaments and playing for Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team – the 17-year-old has committed to the University of Miami."

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McFarland: Red Deer Braves “scratched and clawed” their way to 18U provincial and national championships

"When the Red Deer CarStar Braves clinched the Baseball Alberta Elite League championship this summer, a massive weight came tumbling off their shoulders.

Feeling like they were a favourite heading into each of the last three seasons, the Braves had great regular seasons only to have the playoffs end in heartache.

Little did they know, bigger things were on the horizon as the team would run the table to capture the Baseball Canada 18U National Championship in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador."

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McFarland: Jesson's no-hitter at Ray Carter Cup highlight of successful year

"It wasn’t until after the game that Tucker Jesson realized what had happened.

With the goal of getting Saskatchewan into the semi-finals at the Baseball Canada 15U Ray Carter Cup in Laval, Quebec, the Regina product was focused solely on getting the win.

As the innings rolled along in a tight baseball game, he was completely oblivious to an extra zero on the scoreboard, under the hits column for their opponents for Ontario.

When Jesson struck out Sam Thiessen in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 1-0 quarterfinal victory, his teammates and coaches swarmed the pumped-up Jesson, who had thrown a complete-game no-hitter."

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McFarland: Morgan draws inspiration from Sabrowski heading into Canadian Futures Showcase

AHP Academy and Junior National Team catcher Dominik Morgan (Sherwood Park, Alta.) will compete in his first Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre this week. He will draw inspiration from current Cleveland Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) whom he was catching at the AHP Academy earlier this year. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, spoke to Morgan before the young catching prospect headed for Toronto.

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McFarland: Kooy looking forward to representing Saskatchewan at Canadian Futures Showcase

"The opportunities keep coming for Trentin Kooy and he’s more than happy to take them, no matter how far he has to go.

The Saskatoon native has quickly risen up the ranks of some of the best Canadian prospects set to graduate high school in 2026 thanks to some big performances on even bigger stages.

After appearances at the Prep Baseball Report Junior Future Games in 2023 and the 2024 Baseball Canada Cup with Team Saskatchewan, Kooy is looking forward to adding to that resume when he suits up for Team Black at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre in Toronto Sept. 17-21."

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McFarland: Best summer ever for Saskatchewan women’s teams at national level

"Saskatchewan is quickly asserting itself as a powerhouse on the girls and women’s national baseball stage.

Headlined by a silver medal in the 21U Women’s Championships in Summerside, Prince Edward Island this summer, all four of the province’s programs played for national medals for the first time ever.

With the 14U, 16U and Women’s Open teams claiming fourth place in each of their tournaments, it marked the best summer ever for the program."

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McFarland: Hingley adds another medal to impressive resume

"Claire Hingley’s trophy case is filling up fast.

A gold medalist with Baseball Alberta’s 14U Girls team at the Western Canadian Baseball Championships in Winnipeg in 2022, the Edmonton product added to her haul by winning bronze medals with the 16U squad at the 2023 national event in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Heading into 2024, Hingley was hoping to use those experiences to become part of the leadership group going into the 16U tournament in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

She delivered in a big way, as Alberta went 2-2 in the round-robin before big wins over Manitoba and Ontario to get into the gold medal game against Quebec."

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