Former Vauxhall Jets RHP Shaye McTavish (Lethbridge, Alta.) ranks among the NAIA strikeout leaders for the Pikeville Bears.

April 11, 2025

Shaye McTavish learned to compete early

By Melissa Verge

Canadian Baseball Network

The stakes were high for a young Shaye McTavish growing up in the McTavish family household.

Give it his all outside in an intense game of backyard baseball or inside at a Christmas family card game — or risk losing to his siblings in his hometown of Lethbridge Alta,

That’s where Shaye McTavish, who ranks second among Canadians in strikeouts in the NAIA this season, got his first taste of competition, and his first desire for victory.

Shaye, now 21, would compete with Brennan, now 19, and with the Midland Chaps and sister Teya, now 15. You can find Teya dominating on the court, playing volleyball for Chinook High School, the Panthers 16u and Team Alberta 15u.

In part, those early battles helped power Shaye to a successful career south of the border. The University of Pikeville Bears right-hander has 52 strikeouts this season, behind only British Columbia Thunderbirds Ryan Heppner (Point Roberts, Wash.), who grew up playing for the Delta Blue Jays.

Shaye has been a consistent presence on the mound for Pikeville, said head coach Cody Andreychuk. Getting whiffs at the plate is an important part of that, using his sharp slider and a strong fastball.

“Those are kind of his big assets, being able to strike people out and get out of certain situations by striking people out,” said Andreychuck (Nanaimo, BC), who has coached McTavish for the past two years.

Previously, Shaye pitched for the University of Mary Marauders.

Who’s coached Shaye the longest?

His dad, Les McTavish.

From T-ball, all the way through to the Vauxhall Academy Jets, Les McTavish has helped coach his son and taught him invaluable lessons about the game.

“He taught me everything about the game,” the younger McTavish said. “He really taught me all the fundamentals of the game and how to be the best player I could be.”

Dad, who pitched four seasons at Washington State, was there when Shaye broke his arm playing first base as a 12-year-old for the Southwest Little League All-Stars out of Lethbridge which was playing Trail, BC in Kalispel, Mont. A throw on a bunt was up the line and into the runner ... and down went Shaye.

Shaye after he broke his arm in a Little League game.

Still, Shaye was determined to play in the Canadian Little League Championships hosted by Hastings in Vancouver, BC and had his cast removed before they left. Getting the cast taken off so he could make an appearance and help his team on the field was also in part, a lesson he learned from his dad.

“He always taught me to fight through adversity, and that was one of those moments I wanted to play more than anything,” Shaye said.

It was a memorable trip for the McTavish family. Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC), a respected Seattle Mariners scout and Les’s mentor, came to the game and then invited the whole McTavish family back to his place for a visit with Wayne and his wife Trudith.

The competitive atmosphere in their home growing up, inside and outside of the sport, only benefited his son, Les said.

“They were not playing ‘funsies,’” he said. “You compete with one another, and I think that’s the most important part of being an athlete is going out and competing.”

However, coaching his son did come with its challenges. Sometimes, you’re harder on your own kids, because you don’t want to play favourites, he said.

Still, those challenges came with so many rewards, and “I’d love to do it all over again,” he said.

The Vauxhall Jets led by McTavish recently returned from a trip to Idaho/Las Vegas last month, where they went 4-4. Their top hitter, Calum Thomson (South Pinette, PEI), hit .565 with three doubles and 11 RBIs.

Graham Thiessen (Rosengart, Man.) was a highlight for the Jets on the mound, striking out nine over seven scoreless innings, allowing only four hits.

This spring Shaye is 3-5 with a 4.86 ERA in 10 starts, with his better than one-K-per-inning ratio of 52 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. How his season has gone as he:

_ Pitched 2 2/3 innings against William Carey Crusaders allowing two runs on four hits and five walks, as he fanned five in an 8-3 loss.

_ Worked five innings giving up two runs on five hits and four walks as he struck out five, picking up the 5-4 win against the Cleary Cougars.

_ Last two innings in a 4-1 loss to the Columbia International Rams as he allowed four hits on one hit and six walks.

_ Pitched 5 2/3 innings against Bryan Lions giving up six runs on four hits and eight walks, while striking out five in a 6-4 loss.

_ Worked six innings being touched for three runs on three hits and six walks, as he struck out eight in an 11-3 loss to the Johnson Royals.

_ Worked four innings allowing four unearned runs on five hits and six walks as he struck out five, gaining the win in a 10-5 triumph over Kentucky Christian Knights.

_ Pitched four innings allowing six runs -- four hits -- on three hits and five walks, while fanning six in a 7-2 loss to the Milligan Buffaloes.

_ Tossed a complete game in a 3-2 loss to the Bluefield Rams as he allowed three unearned runs on five hits and four walks, as he fanned seven.

_ Facing the Montreat Cavaliers, he pitched three innings getting touched for five runs on six hits and two walks, while whiffing two in three innings in an 11-6 win.

_ And his last outing -- his best start -- he pitched another complete game shutout allowing two hits and one walk, as he struck out eight in a 4-0 win over the St. Andrews Knights.

Besides being second in strikeouts among Canadian NAIA pitchers this season, he is fourth in innings pitched, behind leader Max Benton (Clyde River, PEI) of William Woods Owls and 10th in ERA behind leader Will Anderson (Delta, BC) of UBC.

Moving forward, Shaye’s goal is to continue to play for as long as possible.

And after - he might follow in his dad’s footsteps.

“I love coaching, I’ve been trying to coach ever since I was able to,” Shaye said. “I would love to coach sports teams when I’m done, especially baseball.”