Shushkewich: From the backyard to Vauxhall to D1, brothers thriving in similar baseball paths

Carlin Dick (left) is starring for the Canisius Golden Griffins, while his brother Cardel (right) is in his freshman season at University of Nebraska Omaha. The brothers hail from Abbotsford, B.C. and are Vauxhall Academy of Baseball grads. Photo: Canisius and University of Nebraska Athletics

March 11, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Hailing from Abbotsford, B.C., Carlin and Cardel Dick are two of just over a 1,000 Canadian-born players who have decided to head to the United States to continue playing baseball at the post-secondary level.

The brothers make up 1.1% of those Canucks who are suiting up for a D1 program and represent 15% of those players suiting up in the United States who call Abbotsford home.

While the brothers are playing for different programs this season, their journey to postsecondary opportunities ran through the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball in Vauxhall, Alta.

“If you ask those who do get the opportunity, they would say it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Cardel, of his time at the Vauxhall Academy. “It gives you a chance to learn and grow as a young adult away from home and learn many important life skills. The environment there is designed for player success and personal development on and off the field with the supportive coaching staff, faculty members, and community that surrounds the program.”

The Vauxhall Jets program is headed by Les McTavish who has been coaching baseball since the late 1990s. The brothers are just two of the success stories to emerge from one of the top high school programs in Western Canada. Carlin is three years older than Cardel so their time with Vauxhall never overlapped on the field, but both had great things to say about the town and the program.

“I looked into the program and instantly fell in love with the place,” said Carlin. “I am definitely happy with my decision and I think every person who has played at Vauxhall holds that place special in their heart for the rest of their playing career.”

Carlin (left) and Cardel (right) shown with the Vauxhall Jets. Photo: Vauxhall Academy of Baseball

McTavish speaks highly of both Carlin and Cardel.

“They come from great parents who always supported their baseball ambitions. When Carlin steps into a room, he steps in with a lot of confidence and is always positive, always smiling. He had a great outlook on the sport and his leadership qualities are off the charts as he leads by example and what he does to bring out the better in others.

“He had a lot of great moments, but one that stands out was when we were down in Vegas, Canisius came out to see the team play and Carlin had a huge day at the plate, hitting for extra bases and just exploding out of the box and playing the game the right way. That Jets team ended up winning the Bishop Gorman tournament for the first time in the program's history and Carlin played a big part.”

McTavish has similar praise for Cardel.

“Cardel was very much like his older brother in confidence as he also did everything extremely well both on and off the field. At last spring’s Best of the West tournament, he won the MVP award and he was always ready to play the game hard, no matter the opponent. He was always showing up ready to play and it didn’t matter who we were facing or who we were playing, he was always the same guy, just consistent on the field and seemed to thrive against the toughest opponents. There are not many 17-year-olds who boast that type of mentality and quality but Cardel was one of them. Similar to his brother, he brings out the better in everyone.”

McTavish also added that their athleticism didn’t stop on the diamond, as both players also thrived on the basketball court at Vauxhall High School.

“You should see these guys play basketball, both bring that same mentality in whatever sport they play, just absolute leaders and able to control the setting,” said McTavish.

After graduating from the Jets program, Carlin took his talents to Buffalo and joined the Canisius Golden Griffins for the 2021 campaign and continues to play there today.

“I am a fan of the small school atmosphere which really drew me to Canisius,” said Carlin. “My dad can attest that I have always said I wanted to play Division 1 Baseball growing up and I got the opportunity to play here (Canisius) and contribute at the D1 level in a school that I think brings out the best of me both on the field and in the classroom.”

The elder Dick had a solid freshman campaign, registering a .348 average with eight doubles, one triple, and two home runs while scoring 22 runs in 23 games. His doubles total was tied for the team lead and he also drew 17 walks to finish the year with a .580 SLG and a 1.046 OPS while splitting his time in the corner outfield spots.

Vauxhall Jets alum Carlin Dick (Abbotsford, B.C.) is in his senior season with the Canisius Golden Griffins. Photo: Canisius Athletics

Through his four seasons with Canisius, Carlin has posted a .259/.390/.432 slash line with 11 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases to the tune of a .822 OPS while splitting time in the corner outfield spots and first base. With this being his senior season, the soon-to-be 22-year-old is conscious of the fact that this is his last season with the Griffins, but he is focused on the present.

“With being a senior, I want to enjoy this season and who knows what the future holds,” said Carlin. “I like being in the present moment and taking it day by day to try to help my team win a MAAC championship and then hopefully make my way into professional baseball. I found that as a sophomore and as a junior I wouldn’t look at where my feet were and kept looking too far ahead in the future, so I really want to focus on where I am now, as I think that brings out my best. I will let the chips fall where they are but I will for sure enjoy my season here and control what I can control.”

Over 15 hours away from Buffalo, Cardel is just beginning his career at the Division 1 level at the University of Nebraska Omaha. The 5-foot-10 catcher is the only Canadian on the Mavericks roster under head coach Evan Porter.

“One of the main reasons I decided to further my career here at Omaha is partially due to the engineering program here at UNO, as I am majoring in Architectural Engineering right now,” said Cardel. “Another reason is the atmosphere that this program embodies is very similar to that at Vauxhall, as the coaching staff is very personal and close with each member of the team and they recruit not only good players but good people, much like Vauxhall.”

Vauxhall Jets alum Cardel Dick (Abbotsford, B.C.) is in his freshman season with the University of Nebraska Omaha. Photo: UNO Athletics

On the diamond, the younger of the two brothers owns a .184/.256/.316 slash line through 11 games. He has two doubles, one home run, and seven RBIs. Behind the plate, Cardel has just one error and has thrown out two base stealers so far while adding 17 assists and 37 putouts.

“One of the main differences has been the overall skill level between D1 and high school ball,” said Cardel. “Everyone is at this level for a reason and can play baseball at this level, but what it comes down to here is your work ethic, which guy wants it more and who is willing to go further to succeed. I think that you could get away with just raw talent at the high school level but here, the guys who slack off get forgotten about and surpassed by the guys who have the skill and work hard.”

While there is a sizeable age gap between the two brothers, they have had the fortune of sharing the diamond on a few occasions throughout their baseball careers.

The first moment was when Cardel got called up to Carlin’s Mosquito baseball team in their early playing days. More recently, the brothers had the opportunity to suit up for the Lethbridge Bulls in the Western Canadian Baseball League this past summer.

“We always used to play in the backyard and Mom and Dad would have to yell at us to go to bed because we were up too late,” laughed Carlin. “I remember when our Mosquito baseball team in Abbotsford needed another player so Cardel was brought in to play. It was like he was meant to be there and I remember being able to pitch to him as he was the only guy on the team who could catch, even though he was younger than everybody on the squad. That was such a great memory and one I will cherish forever.”

“My favourite memory with Carlin is when we got to play with the Bulls this past summer, as we rarely get to play on the same team,” said Cardel. “I think it was the most fun we’ve ever had playing baseball since that time in Mosquito back in Abbotsford. It was even extra special that we hit back-to-back in the Bulls’ lineup as well, forming a one-two punch of brothers. It would be great if we could bring that back this summer.”

Considering their unique scenario, both the brothers have been able to lean on each other as they continue to progress through their respective baseball careers. Carlin was first to experience the gauntlet of D1 baseball and he was able to pass along that knowledge before Cardel even played in his first game with the Mavericks.

“The biggest thing I told him (Cardel) is to enjoy the moment because you never know when it will end,” said Carlin. “I told him to never take anything for granted to be in the present moment. Treat every game like he was competing against me, especially since the age gap he will be competing against at this level will see him face pitchers and opponents who are over three years older than him. I reminded him that he was there for a reason, he had earned and was supposed to be at this level, and to continue treating this like it was us two playing in the backyard.”

These sentiments were echoed by Cardel when asked about any words of wisdom passed down from his older brother.

“I have leaned on Carlin a lot for help and guidance throughout my career and that hasn't changed since coming to UNO,” he said. “I remember him telling me early in the fall to just be myself and to play hard and work hard because that is all you can control, as well as to play loose and have fun because you're playing a sport you love, it shouldn't be a chore, it should be a gift to go out and play at such a high level every day. We talked about how we were going to attack the year and we joked about treating it like playing wiffle ball in the backyard when we were little, just playing loose, having fun, and not playing because we have to but playing because we love the game.”

Baseball has a unique way of bringing family together, whether it is watching the game at home or playing on the diamond. For Carlin and Cardel Dick, that bond has extended even further, as both brothers continue to forge their own paths at one of the top levels in the United States within the collegiate realm.

While the two will likely never face off on the diamond given the distance between their programs and respective conferences, each brother shares similar characteristics that helped them reach where they currently are while leaning on each other for guidance and support as well.

From Abbotsford to Vauxhall to their respective programs, both Carlin and Cardel have bright futures in this sport, wherever that may be.