*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on July 15. You can read it here:

July 22, 2022

By Ian Wilson

Alberta Dugout Stories

The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) has unveiled its selections for the 2022 All-Star Game at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks.

It’s a talented pair of rosters that will suit up for the league’s East and West Divisions, which will take the field for a full slate of baseball festivities – including a Home Run Derby – on Saturday, July 23.

Let’s take a closer look at each lineup and examine the squads by position, as well as by who is representing each WCBL club from Alberta and Saskatchewan.

CATCHERS

The East All-Stars will have three backstops at their disposal, including Calgarian Logan Grant of the Swift Current 57’s, Mike Kenney from the Regina Red Sox and Moose Jaw Miller Express catcher Bryan Reyes.

Grant, who played for the Sylvan Lake Gulls in 2021, is batting .271 through 40 games this summer with 11 stolen bases, 26 runs and 21 RBIs. Kenney is a Chandler, Ariz., native with a .404 batting average, 28 runs and 22 RBIs in 32 contests for the Red Sox. Reyes has put in 38 games with the Miller Express, delivering 37 runs, 39 RBIs, a .370 average and a pair of home runs in his 135 at bats.

INFIELDERS

Regina Red Sox manager Jason Veyna, who will call the shots for the East All-Stars, has eight infielders to mix and match with in Okotoks. Shortstop Zane Zielinski will be a familiar face. The Chicago, Ill., product has 26 runs, 13 swiped bags and 18 RBIs in his 40 games for the Red Sox.

Middle infielders Kellen Williamson (.311 average, 17 stolen bases, 39 runs, 24 RBIs in 39 contests) and Nathan Ade (.286 average, 22 RBIs, 22 runs, five stolen bases in 39 games) have put together strong campaigns for the Mavericks, while Moose Jaw’s Zach Campbell (54 runs, 12 pillow thefts, .328 average through 44 matchups) is another candidate to play shortstop and bat in the leadoff position.

Tejean Smith is a two-way threat for the East – he was selected as an infielder due to his play at shortstop for the 57’s (29 runs, 25 RBIs, .301 average in 40 games), but he has also worked out of the bullpen, picking up three saves and seven strikeouts in eight innings for Swift Current.

Nolan Machibroda looks to slot in at first base and he could also make an appearance in the Home Run Derby. In 33 games with the Weyburn Beavers, the Saskatoon native has a .305 batting average, 34 RBIs, 34 runs and six homers. He’ll be joined by Beaver teammates Braeden Cordes (.295 average, 20 runs in 30 games) and Calgarian Caelen Dalman (.278 average, 21 runs, 18 RBIs through 27 games).

OUTFIELDERS

All five East Division franchises will contribute an outfielder to the roster.

Heavy-hitting Nate Bach brings six long balls, 37 RBIs, 36 runs and a .289 batting average from his 43 appearances with Regina. He’s another potential option for derby duty.

Fans at Ross Wells Park have been watching Nate Mensik crush baseballs for the Miller Express this season. The Nebraska native has suited up in 43 matchups for Moose Jaw, batting .333 with 12 stolen bases, nine homers, 36 RBIs and 43 runs during his time on the WCBL circuit.

The league’s mid-season stolen base king is Braden Desonia out of Spokane, Wash. The speedster with the Mavericks has 27 swiped bags and has only been caught stealing three times. In 42 games with Medicine Hat, Desonia has proven to be a consistent hitter, batting .329 with 42 runs and 30 RBIs.

Thomas Collins is sporting a .309 batting average for Swift Current, where he’s collected 36 runs and seven stolen bases in 43 games for the 57’s.

Ryan Dauphinee is a .282 hitter with Weyburn. He’s also picked up 16 runs and 13 RBIs through 31 games with the Beavers this summer.

PITCHERS

Rudy Estrella, pitching coach for the Red Sox and the East All-Stars, will have no less than 15 arms to choose from to handle nine innings of work.

Steady starters include Weyburn’s Josh Wintroub (56 Ks, 4.40 ERA, 47 innings) and Jared Miller (2.88 ERA, 40 Ks, 40 2/3 innings); Swift Current’s Kenny Jinks (52 Ks, 4.19 ERA, 43 innings) and Adam Golby (35 Ks, 35 innings); as well as Moose Jaw’s Kellan Voggesser (50 Ks, 3.83 ERA, 51 2/3 innings) and Tim Carlson (3-1, 2.59 ERA, 42 Ks, 48 2/3 innings).

Estrella will also have a good idea of what to expect out of Red Sox representatives Braden Houston (5-0, 2.02 ERA, 54 strikeouts, 58 innings), Preston Tenney (2.18 ERA, 40 Ks, 33 innings), and Jonathan Henry (3-1, 2.42 ERA, 30 Ks, 52 innings).

The Mavericks will offer up a trio of relievers to the squad, including Isaiah Bartels (35 Ks, 34 innings, 3.18 ERA), Hunter Cooper (29 Ks, 31 2/3 innings), and Nate Ewing (two saves, 3.60 ERA, 18 Ks, 15 innings).

Calgarian Jared Eifler is another arm barner who could see action. The Weyburn Beaver has appeared in eight games, five of them starts, and struck out 25 batters through 35 2/3 frames.

In addition, Trent Greek of the 57’s is a bullpen option. The North Dakota product is 2-2 with a 4.43 ERA and 19 strikeouts through 22 1/3 innings this summer.

The prime candidate to close out the game for the East All-Stars is Jesse Scholtz, who leads the WCBL in saves with five. Scholtz is 6-1 with a 3.25 ERA and 28 Ks in 47 innings for Moose Jaw.

CATCHERS

Four pitch framers are at the ready for the West All-Stars. British Columbian Jordan Bach has been excellent for the Fort McMurray Giants, where he’s hitting .351 with 35 RBIs, 14 doubles and four steals in 43 games, while Jimmy Costin (.343 average, 36 RBIs, 35 runs, six homers, 36 games) has put up great numbers for the Brooks Bombers.

The other two backstops available include Roger Riley, who is batting .336 with 28 runs, 20 RBI and 11 doubles in 32 games for the Lethbridge Bulls, and the Seaman Stadium faithful will cheer on Jacob Morrow (.276 average, 22 RBIs, 16 runs in 24 contests) of the Okotoks Dawgs.

INFIELDERS

Okotoks head coach Mitch Schmidt and bench boss David Robb will have much to discuss about how best to utilize their West All-Star lineup. Those decisions will include who draws in for infield duty and at which position they’ll play – the options are enviable.

They’re very familiar with first baseman McCoy Pearce (.358 average, five homers, 29 RBIs in 31 games) and shortstop Brendan Luther (.342 average, 10 stolen bases, 27 RBI, 37 runs), who both came over from the Edmonton Prospects to play for the Dawgs this year. Pearce represented the Bombers in the 2019 WCBL All-Star Game and participated in the Home Run Derby – will he take more hacks in the long ball contest this time around? Luther, meanwhile, often bats atop the Dawgs lineup. Will he be the leadoff hitter for the West All-Star crew?

Middle infielder Nick Gravel is a proven veteran who does a bit of everything for the Bulls. He’s hitting .265 with six swiped bags, 19 RBI and 33 runs in 38 games this year.

Shortstop Ethan He has a .299 batting average and three round trippers for the Sylvan Lake Gulls, while Charlie Towers, who plays short for the Giants, has 28 runs and five stolen bases in his 40 games played.

Both Matt Wolff (.349 average, six homers, 41 runs in 42 games for Brooks) and Jordan Phillips (.290 average, 10 steals, eight doubles in 34 games with the Prospects) are also comfortable playing in the outfield.

OUTFIELDERS

Seven outfielders have been given the thumbs up for the West All-Star squad.

Among them are Lethbridge slugger Brad Goodwin (.298 average, three homers, 16 runs in 23 games), who has also picked up a pair of wins out of the bullpen this summer, and Fort Mac’s Reiss Calvin, who is batting .360 with 35 runs in 42 games for the Giants.

Strathmore product Kaden Zarowny is a former Dawg who is taking flight in Sylvan Lake. With the Gulls, he has 24 runs, 24 RBIs, seven swipes, four long balls and a .316 batting average in 34 matchups.

Caleb Feuerstake is one of the best hitters in the WCBL. During his 31 games with the Prospects, he is batting .367. Feuerstake also has 21 runs, 13 stolen bases, nine doubles and two round trippers.

Another baseball basher to keep an eye on is Drew Mackie. He’s played 40 contests for the Bombers and produced a .314 batting average, nine stolen bases, 30 runs and 21 RBIs in that time.

Of course, the home crowd will save their loudest cheers for Micah McDowell and Noah Geekie of the Okotoks Dawgs. McDowell, an Oregon State University (OSU) player, has been a catcher’s nightmare since joining the WCBL circuit. In 24 games, he has 19 stolen bases, 19 runs and a .373 average. Geekie is also barreling up baseballs – in 34 games, he’s hitting .344 with 10 swiped bags, 23 runs and 18 RBIs.

PITCHERS

The West All-Stars have 15 hill toppers lined up to stifle opposing batters.

The top three strikeout leaders in the WCBL are on this team: Sylvan Lake’s Josh Tucker (6-0, 2.09 ERA, 79 Ks in 47 1/3 innings) and Ty Boudreau (5-3, 2.70 ERA, 60 Ks in 53 1/3 innings), as well as Fort McMurray’s Luis Martinez-Gomez (1-1, 2.37 ERA, 56 Ks in 41 2/3 frames). Boudreau tossed a no-hitter for the Gulls earlier this summer.

Some other starting pitchers who could take the mound include Japanese righthander Wataru Murakami (4-1, 2.58 ERA, 49 Ks in 48 2/3 innings for the Prospects); 6-foot-5 Steven Hospital (5-1, 1.30 ERA, 34 Ks in 41 1/3 innings for the Gulls); and Vancouver’s Joe Sinclair (2-3, 32 Ks in 38 2/3 innings with the Bulls).

The Dawgs will be well represented by ace lefty Graham Brunner (6-0, 3.04 ERA, 42 Ks through 41 1/3 innings) and Ryan McFarland (2-1, 3.41 ERA, two saves), who has appeared in 16 games, including a pair of starts.

A number of moundsmen on the pitching staff are comfortable in the swingman role. Jordan Moffat, a veteran with the Prospects, has pitched in 11 games and made four starts. He has 35 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings and a 3.64 ERA. Halen Knoll of the Giants is 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA, 37 Ks in 41 1/3 frames and one save. Robert Liriano (41 Ks in 44 1/3 innings) and Brandon Van Buren (one save and 37 Ks in 46 1/3 innings) have been versatile pitchers for the Bombers.

Other pitchers have what Liam Neeson might refer to as a “very particular set of skills” … skills that might make them a nightmare for hitters in the late innings of a game.

Ethan Cernohous of the Prospects comes to mind. In 19 relief appearances, he’s 4-2 with one save and a 3.42 ERA. He’s also struck out 21 batters in 23 2/3 frames.

The Lethbridge Bulls also have a pair of relievers that fit that mould. Blade Strzelczyk has been slicing pitches through strike zones all season – the Texan is 1-1 with one save, a 2.45 ERA, and 24 Ks in 22 innings. And Ben Erwin, of Spruce Grove, is a likely candidate to get ninth inning work. The righty is 2-1 with four saves and a 0.96 ERA this season. He also has 17 Ks in 18 2/3 innings.

TEAM REPRESENTATIVES

Now that we’ve put the All-Star rosters under the microscope based on position, let’s take a closer look at who will be representing each side on a club-by-club basis.

OKOTOKS DAWGS

The host Dawgs will have seven players and two coaches on the West All-Star team. Pitchers include Graham Brunner and Ryan McFarland; infielders are McCoy Pearce and Brendan Luther; and Jacob Morrow will mask up behind the plate. Micah McDowell and Noah Geekie will patrol the outfield. Head coach Mitch Schmidt and bench coach David Robb will call the shots for the team.

SYLVAN LAKE GULLS

The Gulls have five players on the West roster, including pitchers Josh Tucker, Tyler Boudreau, and Steven Hospital. Outfielder Kaden Zarowny and infielder Ethan He also made the cut.

LETHBRIDGE BULLS

A half dozen Bulls received All-Star honours – three hitters and three pitchers. Catcher Roger Riley, infielder Nick Gravel and outfielder Brad Goodwin are the batters. Ben Erwin, Joe Sinclair and Blade Strzelczyk will rep Lethbridge on the mound.

FORT McMURRAY GIANTS

Five Giants were picked to help the West Division defeat their Eastern rivals. Pitchers Halen Knoll and Luis Martinez-Gomez got the call, as did catcher Jordan Bach, infielder Charlie Towers and outfielder Reiss Calvin.

EDMONTON PROSPECTS

The Prospects have five representatives that have been chosen to take part in the All-Star Game festivities. Outfielder Caleb Feuerstake will be joined by infielder Jordan Phillips and pitchers Wataru Murakami, Jordan Moffat, and Ethan Cernohous.

BROOKS BOMBERS

Five members of the Bomb Squad are Okotoks bound. A pair of pitchers – Robert Liriano and Brandon Van Buren – will join forces with catcher Jimmy Costin, infielder Matt Wolff and outfielder Drew Mackie at Seaman Stadium.

MOOSE JAW MILLER EXPRESS

The East All-Star lineup will include six players from the Miller Express. Pitchers Tim Carlson, Jesse Scholtz and Kellan Voggesser will link up with catcher Bryan Reyes, infielder Zach Campbell and outfielder Nate Mensik.

REGINA RED SOX

Manager Jason Veyna and pitching coach Rudy Estrella have been selected to guide the East All-Stars. They’ll bring six Red Sox players with them, including pitchers Jonathan Henry, Braden Houston and Preston Tenney. Catcher Mike Tenney, infielder Zane Zielinski and outfielder Nate Bach will also fly the flag for Regina.

SWIFT CURRENT 57’s

Six players have been plucked from the 57’s roster for All-Star duty. Catcher Logan Grant, infielder Tejean Smith and outfielder Thomas Collins will look to perform at the plate while pitchers Trent Greek, Adam Golby and Kenny Jinks will try to shut down the best hitters the West Division has to offer.

MEDICINE HAT MAVERICKS

The Mavs are also sending a trio of hurlers and a threesome of batters to Okotoks on July 23. Included in their All-Star six-pack are pitchers Isaiah Bartels, Hunter Cooper and Nate Ewing, as well as infielders Nathan Ade, Kellen Williamson and speedy outfielder Braden Desonia.

WEYBURN BEAVERS

The East All-Stars squad features seven players out of Weyburn. Three infielders – Braeden Cordes, Caelen Dalman and Nolan Machibroda – will be joined by outfielder Ryan Dauphinee and pitchers Jared Eifler, Jared Miller and Josh Wintroub.

The WCBL All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, July 23 at 7:05 p.m. at beautiful Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta. The gates will open at 4 p.m. and the event will feature a 5 p.m. Home Run Derby; autograph signings by former Major League Baseball (MLB) standout and Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Matt Stairs; musical entertainment; a pre-game show and a post-game fireworks display.