There were cheers, beers and even a few tears at the first Western Canadian Baseball League Rural Roots Baseball Classic in Oyen, Alberta.
And if I had a vote at the WCBL board of governor’s table, I would enthusiastically vote “yes” to hold another one in 2026.
The summer circuit and the community of Oyen put on an absolute show on Sunday afternoon, complete with the country charm you would expect from any small community.
The league was looking to honour its past, as it was 30 years ago that the Oyen Pronghorns claimed the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League title, becoming the first Alberta team to do so, while also showcasing the current on-field product as the Sylvan Lake Gulls and Lethbridge Bulls did battle at Doug Lehman Field.
While the Bulls won the barnburner 19-11, the score was almost a secondary storyline to the atmosphere and what it actually meant to have the WCBL return to Oyen.
HONOURING A LEGEND
Under a sunny sky, the teams and fans arrived to a perfectly manicured Doug Lehman Field.
It’s the home of the Badlands Academy Badgers, who did everything in their power to make sure it was up to the standards needed for a high-level WCBL contest.
More than an hour before game time, fans were already finding the perfect spot to scope out the action and to get the first beverage and burger from the concession.
They were more than ready when public address announcer Joe Whitbread gave them the two-minute warning for the pre-game ceremony, which was executed flawlessly by Brent Radlinsky as he introduced the two teams, Pronghorns alumni, and several dignitaries.
League president Kevin Kvame welcomed fans and thanked the community for its support, former provincial minister of sport Shirley McLellan offered words of gratitude, and Mayor Doug Jones – who has been a long-time baseball advocate and builder across the province – also said a few words.
Then, to the surprise of everyone in attendance, Jones’ wife Yvonne and the town’s recreation director Lee Tucker were asked to come onto the field, where it was announced Oyen’s Alberta RCMP Century Park, where Doug Lehman Field stands, was being renamed to Doug Jones Park.
“I was surprised – it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Jones told Alberta Dugout Stories after the game. “It was great and nice to have my whole family here as I wasn’t expecting them all to be here.”
In a world that seems set on honouring people posthumously for their efforts and contributions, it was a heartwarming moment to watch the reaction of Jones and his family, which they say will be a moment they will never forget.
KEEPING SCORE
It was a homecoming for one of the players in the Bulls starting lineup, as Badlands Academy grad Max Benton took to the hill.
He felt right at home, looking like he never left while fielding a fly ball off the bat of Jaden Flores in the second inning.
“It was definitely déjà vu all over again,” the right-hander said. “It was like riding a bike – just get back on and do it.”
His team helped him out in a big way, scoring nine runs in the bottom half of that inning, highlighted by a Drew Bufford grand slam.
Tasked with keeping tabs on the score were volunteers in the left-field corner, who were actually drawing massive numbers on their scoreboard.
The Gulls did their part to keep them busy by chipping away at their deficit, getting a home run from Simon Baker in the very next inning.
The teams exchanged big-run innings in the latter half of the game, leading to the 19-11 final, which also featured home runs from Carter Claerhout of Lethbridge and Ayden Makarus of Sylvan Lake.
A TIP OF THE CAP
While they might be rivals on the field, the Gulls and Bulls did everything they could to show their appreciation for the fans in Oyen after the game.
In a show of sportsmanship, they lined up to shake hands after the game, posed for a combined team photo at home plate, then turned around together to tip their caps to the 550 or so fans who stayed right to the end.
While the goal might have been to bring together the league’s past and present, it also highlighted the impact it can have on the game’s future.
Several youngsters were quick to snag foul balls and hold onto them until after the game, when they gathered as many autographs as they could.
The players and coaches were more than happy to oblige, while the community’s mayor couldn’t help but smile at what had all transpired.
“I think the coolest part to me was that we were having young kids play on other diamonds at the same time as we’re going here,” Jones said. “I mean, that’s what it’s all about is to get kids involved.”
Almost on cue, several youngsters took to Doug Lehman Field to run the bases and play fungo.
BRINGING BACK THE BEAVERS
Even before this past weekend, I was a big fan of the concept of the WCBL Rural Roots Baseball Classic.
I loved the idea of marrying the past and present while providing a unique experience for communities that had roots in the league’s long history.
This past weekend’s festivities give the league a great foundation to build upon and some potential lessons learned on how to handle another event like it.
PHOTO GALLERY: WCBL Rural Roots Baseball Classic
I had thrown around the idea of hosting the next Rural Roots game in places like Eston, Hazlet, Kindersley or Unity, given their relatively recent history with the league.
But I’m going to throw another community into the mix as my front-runner for hosting a game in 2026, should the league decide to continue with it.
The North Battleford Beavers were a force in the Northern Saskatchewan Major Baseball League – another precursor of the WCBL – in the 1960s and 1970s.
They won four straight championships from 1962-1965, then went back-to-back in 1968-1969 and 1971-1972 before requesting a leave of absence in 1975, when the league became the SMBL.
With a fantastic baseball community in North Battleford, which includes the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the WCBL at Beaver Lions Baseball Stadium could be a great fit. Not to mention: former Saskatoon Berries pitching coach Andrew Albers also hails from the city.
Admittedly, it’s no small feat to put the game on, with many moving pieces from liquor licenses and broadcast amenities to bringing team swag to sell and coordinating team travel.
There’s also the business side of things, where the “home team” in a neutral site game is losing revenues they would normally generate, which can be a big deal for teams.
They are all points to consider as we look ahead to the next possible Rural Roots Game, but given the success seen in Oyen, I see it as a worthy opportunity to bring the game back to heritage communities to honour the past, showcase the present, and inspire the future.
Tales of Baseball 