November 16, 2022

By Rod Black

Canadian Baseball Network

Matt Coutney has probably never seen the old original movie Walking Tall, but he really doesn’t have to.

He’s living it. 

Only with a baseball twist.

Back in the 1973 classic – the humble, hardworking, revenge seeking Buford Pusser took out in his redemption on notorious outlaws and criminals with a large piece of lumber.

Fast forward about five decades and Coutney has been doing his own best “Buford” – only he uses his big stick to bash baseballs.

Many baseballs.

So many baseballs that the 23-year-old power hitting first baseman from Wetaskiwin, Alta. made history in his third and final college year at Old Dominion University.

The Albertan laid a hurtin’ on so many Rawlings that he set an ODU record with 27 home runs (third overall in the country) leading his team in dingers, hits, slugging and on-base percentage. For his efforts, he earned First Team All-Conference honours, was named Conference USA Player of the Year and was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 10th round this past summer.

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Up Now ... The 23rd annual Canadian Baseball Network college Player of the Year

And Next ... the Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian college First Team, plus players earning Honourable Mention list and voting … And the All-Canadian team stats package.

Already posted …. The Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian Second Team. … the Canadian Baseball Network all-Canadian Third Team.

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But there is one more accolade to come.

When I reached out to Matt for this article, I was told by editor Bob Elliott to try and interview him “James Bond” style and not give away the news. My mission if I chose to accept it was to “Make the finished product a surprise” texted Bob. His rationale is that it is a bigger surprise when a teammate/relative/friend reads the story, phones and tells the honoured player/scout/minor leaguer.

I chose to accept, did the interview, wrote this feature and “Mission Accomplished” until now.

Surprise no more. The news it out.

Congratulations, Matt! You are the Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Year with 41 first-place votes out of a voting electorate of 52 voters.

Matt Coutney has come a long way … in so many ways.

His circuitous journey is not a unique one but like most Canadian ballplayers it has been a base path less travelled.

From a young starry-eyed boy growing up playing hockey in Northern Alberta transitioning to his full-time love of the summer sport at St. Francis Xavier Academy to getting an opportunity to spend some time playing at the Canada Summer Games, participating in the former T-12 Summer showcase and even spending a little time with the National Junior Team, Coutney would eventually take his talents to the college level even though at first he wasn’t considered a blue chip prospect.

“It certainly has been different,” Coutney told me from his family home less than an hour drive south of Edmonton.

“But once I got to JUCO in Kansas, I really started to get an idea of what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in this sport.”

Two years of Colby Community College did exactly that. Coutney slashed some big numbers in Kansas - .426/26 homers/116 RBIs - in two seasons and then was rewarded with a Division I opportunity in Norfolk Va. with Old Dominion University where the journey started to really take shape with new conquests and unusual challenges.

“I got there for my first year and was really excited and then suddenly COVID hit and so all of us were shut down after a shortened season,” Coutney said. “Fortunately, we were given an extra year of eligibility so that got me a fifth year and it really couldn’t have been any more amazing.”

One of his coaches at ODU, Mike Marron told me the guy they affectionately called “Couts” did “amazing” the old-fashioned way. He earned it.

“Matt’s work ethic and leadership skill set was so evident from the first time he stepped on campus,” said the Monarchs’ pitching coach. “He just worked so hard. Was so good with his teammates. His care level was through the roof.”

“And that attitude just made him grow so much,” Marron continued. “You know, he was solid the first couple of years despite his first season being interrupted by the pandemic but then this season something clicked. His mentality was not to let pitchers attack him but for him to attack pitchers.

“He treated it like it was always a 60-foot battle and guess what? He won almost every battle, every dance. He was just so locked in.”

Locked in - as in breaking a school record for home runs in a season with 27 while starting all 58 games at first base. Hitting .376 with 70 RBIs and 18 doubles while scoring 66 runs along with a slugging percentage of .808 and an on-base percentage of .473. All that and more despite the fact that Coutney had a slow start to his final year at ODU.

“He hit his first home run about 10 games into the season,” said Marron. “And then something went off – and he went off. Had a five-game home run streak. Had four multi-homer games. And through it all – he was the best teammate you could have. First player to stretch. Last to leave. And always an energy giver.”

For an energy guy and a power guy, Coutney also could be considered a contact hitter - at least a contact lens hitter.

“Crazy story but I wasn’t seeing the ball that well during night games and our hitting coach Logan Robbins, who is now at Notre Dame, came up and said you really suck during night games.”

Coutney laughed and explained. “So, I always had these low prescription contacts that really didn’t do much and decided before one of the night games to put one lens in my right eye to try it out. I got a bomb and four hits. And suddenly started to really see the ball well. Things started to really work.”

Worked like a charm. Coutney started to see the ball and create contact like one of his heroes, another Canadian first baseman Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.), and suddenly something even he had a difficult time envisioning five years ago is now coming into full focus.

“The year was a blur but a real good blur,” said the son of Frank and Glenda and younger brother of Brett who helped get him hooked on baseball. “One of the best days I had, was when I was close to breaking the home run record and my dad was in the stands. I got two that day. One to tie. One to break and I wasn’t even thinking about the record, but it was so great my dad was there. So special. My family has done so much for me.”

Fast forward to July and the draft when another magic moment happened for the Coutney family.

“Yeah, that was a dream come true,” Coutney said with emotion in his voice. “After the year, I had I was getting some draft buzz but wasn’t really quite sure. We had heard fifth or sixth round possibly and maybe another opportunity in the eighth round but nothing was happening.

“We were following online and then in the 10th round, I started seeing my name pop up again and then the Angels called and picked me. The next thing you know – my phone blows up and we’re all celebrating. It was such a cool moment. Will never forget it.”

Coutney excelled away from the diamond too. The demands of a student athlete can be daunting, but he masterfully juggled his academics and athletics earning his bachelor’s degree in business management which in the endgame is the most important part of the university experience.

“Matt Coutney deserves everything he gets,” says coach Marron. “He’s a great player but a fantastic human from a fantastic family. I can’t tell you how many times he would come up and ask a teammate or a coach how his family was doing and sincerely mean it. He just cared so much about his team and his community. He made an impact on everyone around him.

“We are so incredibly proud of ‘Couts.’ He was such a huge part of our Old Dominion culture and our legacy. We congratulate Matt on becoming the Canadian College Player of the Year – what an incredible honour - and we are looking forward to following his journey as both as a player and a person. Whatever he does. Whenever he does it. We know he will be successful.”

For now, and for most of the winter, the Canadian College Player of the Year will be back where it all started. Back home near Edmonton where he’ll be working out and also working with some young kids helping teach the game around Alberta. Then it will be off to his first spring training camp in Arizona with the Angels. He’s already spent a few weeks down south in the instructional league keeping his big bat warm and getting his feet wet in the dry heat.

He’ll also probably watch some hockey and his favorite team which is surprisingly not named the Oilers. He’s an unapologetic diehard Montreal Canadiens fan. He said he started loving the Habs when Rene Bourque, a distant relative was playing in the NHL.

Now Coutney wants to be that guy. He knows it’s one thing to get drafted. Quite another to take that next big step to the show. But if you’ve paid attention to his story, it would be best not to bet against good things happening.

Just follow the bouncing baseball - Wetaskiwin, Alta. to Colby, Kan. to Norfolk, Va. to officially becoming a pro player. So many miles, so many swings and so many big hits. He didn’t come all this way for his journey to end here.

So … my apologies Matt that I had to keep the news secret and hush hush from you and your family for a bit … but please enjoy another great moment in a dream year.

You are the Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Year for 2022.

Walk tall young man. Carry that big stick.

And keep knocking it out of the park.

(Hot Rod Black did such a good job breaking news on our 2022 Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Year -- INF Tyler Black, his son -- we asked him to do the honours again. We think this was year II of a 10-year deal.)