Left-hander Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) is rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery in the Cleveland Guardians organization. Despite his injury setbacks, he is confident that he will one day pitch in the major leagues. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with Sabrowski.
Read MoreJoe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares a list of active professional players with Alberta connections.
Read MoreThe Western Canadian Baseball League is adding a team in Saskatoon in 2024, but they would like to add even more teams in the future, writes Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories.
Read More“An age-old question in the world of officiating is facing a new twist: how do you recruit and retain talented people coming out of a global pandemic?
It’s often a thankless job that has come under enormous scrutiny in the face of instant replay and cellphone video, but COVID-19 also opened up the eyes of potential umpires and referees to other ways to spend their summers.
Organizations like Baseball Alberta have been left holding the bag, scrambling to find enough people to service each game.”
Read MoreFrom Mexico to Okotoks to Kansas, 2022 Western Canadian Baseball League MVP and Okotoks Dawgs star Ricky Sanchez has excelled on the baseball field. The young infielder’s ascent up the U.S. college ranks will continue when he heads to Lamar University in the fall. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with the 5-foot-9, 170-pound sparkplug and Dawgs fan favourite.
Read MoreIan Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, writes about legendary Canadian Stubby Clapp’s two important seasons with the independent Northern League’s Edmonton Cracker-Cats in 2005 and 2006.
Read MoreFrom Red Deer to Big Bend Community College to the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Reign Letkeman experienced both success and adversity during his pitching career. The new father has now returned to his alma mater to share his wisdom as a coach. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently caught up with Letkeman.
Read MoreVauxhall Academy Jets grads Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) and Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, B.C.) have been reunited in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently caught up with the two Canadians.
Read MoreOkotoks Dawgs Academy alum Brett Platts (Albany, P.E.I.) still has a goal of reaching the big leagues, but he’s taking a different route than he originally anticipated. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares Platt’s story.
Read MoreJoe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, provides an update on how Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) is progressing from his twice-torn, right Achilles that has keep him out of major league action since August 3, 2020.
Read MoreThe Western Canadian Baseball League was well represented on the Canadian Baseball Network’s All-Canadian college teams in 2022. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, provides a summary.
Read MoreFor the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Baseball Alberta was able to host its annual general meeting and awards gala in-person in Edmonton November 11-13. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares the names of the province’s annual award winners.
Read MoreFormer Vauxhall Jets left-hander Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) has been dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Meanwhile ex-Okotok Dawg Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) has landed with the Tampa Bay Rays. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has the details.
Read MoreRight-hander Halen Knoll, named after the rock group Van Halen, made significant strides in the Alberta baseball ranks this year. He has also landed a scholarship to the University of Mary. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has Knoll’s story.
Read More“If you would have told Ty Penner in high school or even early in his college baseball career that he would one day sign a contract with a Major League Baseball team, he would have wanted to believe you.
But he admits, he doesn’t know if every bone in his body would have thought it was possible.
Just a few short years later, a life-long dream for the Lethbridge infielder became a reality when he signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.”
Read MoreJoe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently caught up with Canadian Women’s National Team legend Ashley Stephenson to talk about her new role as coach of the team and how she hopes to help grow women's baseball in Canada.
Read More“For all intents and purposes, Amar Mahmood is a late-bloomer in the game of baseball.
The Edmonton product loved the game, but admits he was out of shape in high school and “not very good” on the diamond.
He had been cut from various teams, and was simply playing the game for fun while training at St. Francis Xavier Academy in Grades 10 and 11 then 5 Tool Fieldhouse in Grade 12.
That’s when he met Absolute Human Performance (AHP) founder Taylor Burns, who convinced Mahmood to take a gap year and play with AHP’s first academy team.”
Read MoreJoe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, writes about inspirational left-hander Jim Abbott’s tenure with the Calgary Cannons.
Read More“Matt Stairs must feel at home in Alberta.
The former big league slugger, who was at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta., as a special guest at the Western Canadian Baseball League’s All-Star Game on Saturday, has a brother that lives in Calgary and he and his wife, Lisa, were staying with his ex-sister-in-law in Okotoks.
It was also in Alberta with the Oakland A’s triple-A Edmonton Trappers in 1996 that Stairs turned his professional baseball career around. At age 28, after seven seasons in the minors with only short stretches of big league action, he decided to open up his batting stance.”
Read MoreIan Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares the starting lineups for the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game, as well as details about the home run derby, which will take place at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alta., today.
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