*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on May 1. You can read it here.

May 6, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Canadian Baseball Network

There aren’t many baseball players who have won a championship in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Regina’s Gavin Wuschke would love to add his name to that list as his Bellevue University Bruins enter the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) playoffs.

The freshman is coming off a regular season where he went 5-2 with a 5.46 earned-run average in 13 appearances, including nine starts.

The Bruins finished the year with an overall record of 36-12, including 21-2 in conference play, and Wuschke thinks they have what it takes to bring home a national championship.

“It would be pretty special,” he told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “I’ve been fortunate to play on some very talented teams these last couple of years and this one is at the same calibre, if not higher, than the others so knowing we have a good show is quite exciting.”

Those teams including the 2022 CCBC champion Okanagan College Coyotes and the 2023 WCBL champion Okotoks Dawgs.

Wuschke will also be looking to add to his trophy case later this summer as he returns to Okotoks.

YES TO THE ‘YOTES

A multi-sport athlete growing up, Wuschke first burst onto the baseball scene as a 12-year-old with Team Canada at the Cal Ripken World Series in 2015.

He eventually decided to turn his attention to the diamond full-time while attending Balfour Collegiate High School in Regina.

He spent his summers with the Regina Athletics, who he helped guide to a spot in the provincial championships during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

“Doing it during my senior year of high school was pretty special,” Wuschke said. “We had a tight group of guys who had a tough season the year before, so it was pretty cool to see the progress we made.”

That fall, the right-hander announced he would take the first step in his collegiate career by committing to Okanagan College.

While the pandemic continued to wreak havoc on Western Canada in 2021, Wuschke had to wait until a shortened fall season to make his collegiate baseball debut.

In two outings, he posted a 3.00 ERA, striking out four in three innings of relief work as the Coyotes claimed the championship.

Wuschke returned in 2022 to go 1-0 with three saves and a 4.65 ERA in eight relief appearances during the season, while making one appearance in the playoffs as the Coyotes repeated as champs.

He came back as a starter in 2023 to dominate with a 5-0 record in seven starts, posting a 2.63 ERA while leading the league with 62 strikeouts in 44+ innings.

His final appearance with the Coyotes came during the CCBC championship weekend in Lethbridge, where he allowed no runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts in seven innings during an 8-1 win over the University of Fraser Valley.

While the Coyotes weren’t able to complete the three-peat, Wuschke did cement himself a top-level pitcher, opening the door to a commitment with Bellevue.

SOMETHING BRUIN

Heading into his first NAIA season, Wuschke was hoping to earn a spot in the starting rotation among a number of talented pitchers.

“From there, I didn’t have any large expectations of myself, as long as I gave the team a chance to win every time I took to the field,” he said.

He made his first start on February 25 against Briar Cliff, and became a steady presence with all but one of his starts lasting more than five innings.

While his overall numbers look good, including striking out five or more batters in six of his starts, Wuschke isn’t totally satisfied.

“It’s been a disappointing spring personally as I feel things just haven’t been going my way,” he said. “However, the team has rallied around my struggles and kept me in the win column all season.”

The Bruins, led by fellow Dawgs Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.) and Brendan Luther (Mississauga, Ont.), will be looking to avenge an early exit from the NAIA World Series in 2023 with a roster full of returning veterans.

Wuschke says he likes the makeup of the team this time around.

“We seem to be clicking and getting hot at the perfect time,” he said. “We have a super-talented lineup one-through-nine that can compete with anyone in the nation, so it will be exciting to see what happens over the next few weeks.”

CLOSER TO HOME

Wuschke will have a second chance to contribute to a three-peat when he suits up for the Dawgs this summer.

This will be his second season in Okotoks, where he went 3-0 with a 3.05 ERA in 13 games last summer, including six starts.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound hurler saved his best for the playoffs, where he went 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in two appearances as the Dawgs lifted the Harry Hallis Trophy for a second-consecutive August.

“I’m super-pumped to be back,” Wuschke said. “We have a lot of guys returning from the last two seasons and a solid group of talented new players coming in to help us get that three-peat.”

Playing in the WCBL also means a chance to play closer to home, and he has already circled July 23-28 on his calendar as the Dawgs embark on a roadtrip taking them through Weyburn, Regina and Saskatoon.

He wouldn’t mind getting the chance to pitch at Currie Field this season, after pitching in Moose Jaw and Weyburn in 2023.

“It’s always fun coming home and playing at the field I grew up playing on, as well as playing in front of all the family and friends that come out and support,” Wuschke said. “I also enjoy competing against guys I grew up playing with and against – that’s always fun and brings back some old memories.”

Wuschke and the Dawgs start their season May 24 against the Brooks Bombers.