The rosters for the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game, which will take place at Seaman Stadium, home of the Okotoks Dawgs on Saturday, have been announced.
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“Logan Grant admits he’s not the best cook, so getting to play close to home for the first time in a few years has been a nice treat.
He grew up in the Dawgs Academy program in Okotoks before heading off to school at Bismarck State College and, most recently, Bellevue University.
After successful stints with the Sylvan Lake Gulls in 2021 and the Swift Current 57s in 2022, he’s back in the friendly confines of Seaman Stadium as part of the Okotoks Dawgs, a team he always wanted to play for.
“It’s unbelievable being able to be on this side of it,” Grant told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “Watching those players growing up, it’s super-cool getting to do what they got to do.”
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“It might still be early, but Erik Sabrowski is exceeding expectations in restarting his professional baseball journey.
Following his second Tommy John surgery since 2018, the Edmonton-area product was hoping to make his debut in the Cleveland Guardians system sometime in late-June or early-July.
Much to the delight of his teammates, friends, family and those who have known Sabrowski, there he was on May 23, recording a strikeout in extended spring training action.
A week later, he had officially graduated from rehabilitation and was assigned to the double-A Akron RubberDucks.”
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“It would have been easy for Demetri Shakotko to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Darren Shakotko had a successful sports career that included a Western Hockey League (WHL) championship with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 1996-1997. His puck pursuits continued at the University of New Brunswick, followed by a few seasons in the East Coast Hockey League and Central Hockey League.
While Demetri did excel on the ice growing up in Fredericton, his real passion was on the baseball field.
So when it came time to make a decision about what to pursue, the young man didn’t hesitate and faced no pressure from his father.”
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The Louis Bull Tribe in Maskwacis, Alberta will receive funding to rebuild their baseball diamond from the Jays Care Foundation. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has the details.
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The Western Canadian Baseball League will be well represented on Canada’s roster when they participate in the Pan Am Games Qualifier in Argentina beginning on June 16. Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has the details.
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On Monday, Canadian right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) made his first major league regular season start since August 3, 2020. It was an inspiring and triumphant return, despite the fact that he allowed four runs in six innings to the Oakland A's. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, has more about Soroka’s long awaited major league return.
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Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, provides a preview of the West Division of the Western Canadian Baseball League heading into the 2023 campaign.
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The Calgary Dinos captured their first CCBC championship on the weekend. Joe McFarland and Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, have the details.
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Prairie Baseball Academy alum Kyle Bloor (Lethbridge, Alta.) has made the successful transition from catcher to All-Conference closer at Tennessee Wesleyan University. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with the young right-hander about his baseball odyssey.
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Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, provides a rundown of the Western Canadian Baseball League’s season-opening games slated for later this month.
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Prospects Academy alum Brady Kobitowich (Edmonton, Alta.) says his mother, Erin, is “everything” to him, having raised him as a single parent. These days, thanks largely to his mom’s support, the 6-foot-1 right-hander is succeeding in a “jack-of-all-trades” role on the Niagara University pitching staff. Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, recently spoke with Kobitowich.
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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.
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Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories, shares a list of active professional players with Alberta connections.
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The 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.
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“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.”
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From 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.
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Ian 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.
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From 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.
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Vauxhall 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.
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