By IAN WILSON
The Regina Red Sox provided us with plenty of firsts on their way to a Western Canadian Baseball League championship last year.
It was the Red Sox first league title since 2012 and the first Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy win for a Saskatchewan-based team since 2017. The triumph also marked the first time since 2021 that a team other than the Okotoks Dawgs claimed a WCBL championship.
In addition, the win was the first WCBL crown for Queen City Sports & Entertainment Group (QCSEG), who took over as owners of the Red Sox in 2025.
So, what will Regina do for an encore this summer?
Let’s take a look at the lineup and see what Red Sox fans can expect.
BATTING
WCBL Playoff MVP Brady Bye will once again be framing pitches and bashing baseballs for the Red Sox. The local catcher led all postseason hitters in runs batted in (RBI), with 10, while posting a .333 batting average over eight games. Now entering his fourth WCBL season, Bye picked up a hit in every playoff game during the Red Sox journey to the title. He also smacked nine homers during the 2025 regular season to lead Regina batters in that category.
Sharing backstop duties with Bye are Daniel Castellanos – a Los Angeles, California product who suited up in 18 games for the Red Sox last summer, including six postseason contests – and Regina native Rhett Hodgins, a Taft College student who appeared in 15 games with his hometown team in 2025. Matteo Pierre, an Arizona Western University pupil originally from France, has also been added to the roster as a catcher.
Another clutch playoff performer, infielder Justin Simard, is also back for another season. With the Red Sox down to their final strike against the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the second game of the championship final, the Californian slapped an infield single that tied the game before coming around to score the go-ahead run en route to a victory. Simard hit .300 in the playoffs and added a pair of runs and three RBI.
“Simard is our Swiss Army knife type player,” said Red Sox Field Manager Rye Pothakos.
“He can play three infield positions and patrol the outfield when needed. Simmy will be back for his third season with us—he’s a great clubhouse presence and truly lives by the motto, ‘it ain’t over till it’s over.’”
Outfielder Ian Montz showed off his power stroke during the playoff push. After launching four long balls during 33 regular season games, he recorded another four homers in eight postseason contests. The returning slugger from Louisiana scored six runs and produced seven RBI for the Red Sox in the playoffs and he recorded the final out of the championship series after tracking down a hard hit ball off the bat of Sylvan Lake batter Simon Baker.
“Montz was a monster in the 2025 WCBL playoffs and was stellar in centre field all season,” said Pothakos.
“We’re excited to have him back — he brings experience, leadership, and a strong presence to our lineup.”
Montz will be joined in the outfield by Minnesotan Jordan Tucker, a righty batter who collected 56 hits, 43 runs, 32 RBI, 10 stolen bases and four round trippers in 50 regular season games with Regina last year. Tucker scored seven runs and smacked four doubles in 31 playoff at bats with the Red Sox in August.
Also back for more is infielder Jalen Meyers, who was a .300 hitter for the Red Sox in the 2025 WCBL postseason. The Texan was a reliable batter with Regina upon his arrival to Saskatchewan in mid-July.
Several new position players will make their way to Currie Field in 2026.
Shortstop Lance Anderson joins the Red Sox out of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, while Mason Canter (Nicholls State University), Logan Mallard (Nicholls State University) and Cooper Jones (Brigham Young University) will also handle infield duties. All four players are from NCAA Division 1 programs.
Rounding out the infielder roles are Ryne Griffin (Bethany Lutheran College), along with Mason Tafoya and Will Togher, who are both students at Garden City Community College.
“Tafoya is a speedy outfielder with power,” said Pothakos.
“Will is a big-bodied first baseman who plays quality defence,” added Pothakos. “A redshirt sophomore, he’s a guy with power from the right side and will lengthen our lineup.”
New outfielders include lefty batter Ty Martinez (Keiser University), Isaac Low (Mesa Community College), and Torontonian Raine Kreklewetz (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M).
“Raine is an exceptional athlete with great baseball IQ …we’re looking forward to what he can bring to our lineup,” said Pothakos.
Alex Roux has been signed as a utility player. The righty batter from Louisiana attends Spring Hill University.
PITCHING
Long-time local talent Zander Oudie-Senger will take the mound for the Red Sox for another summer. The 6-foot-3 righthander has been with the team since 2022. In his 60 games in the WCBL, Oudie-Senger has gone 10-4 with a 4.40 earned run average (ERA) and 84 strikeouts over 135 regular season and playoff innings. Primarily used as a reliever, he has made 10 starts for the Red Sox, including two during the 2025 postseason.
“Zander is a veteran arm who has grown into a leader for our club and a reliable piece of our rotation,” said Pothakos.
“He’s a guy who wants the ball and provides valuable depth to our pitching staff. As a senior, he understands the league, what it takes to be successful, and how to prepare day in and day out.”
Southpaw Colton Bank, another Regina moundsman, is returning for his fourth campaign with the Red Sox. Bank has pitched in 15 games for his hometown team, including four starts. He has an 0-3 record, one save and 29 Ks through 39.1 WCBL innings.
Also making his return to Currie Field is 6-foot-2 righty Vittorio Iacobucci. The reliever has logged 47 innings for the Red Sox since 2024 and is a K-per-inning pitcher. During the 2025 WCBL postseason, Iacobucci appeared in three games, allowing zero earned runs and just two hits over 4.2 innings. He picked up his first save for Regina in the second game of the WCBL championship series against Sylvan Lake.
Starting pitcher Daniel Crabtree will take the bump for Regina after missing the 2025 WCBL season. In his previous two summers with the Red Sox, the righthander went 8-7 with a 4.03 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 143 innings and 25 games, 22 of them starts.
“Danny is a leader on our pitching staff — he throws strikes, competes every time out, and gives you a chance to win whenever he takes the ball. We’re really looking forward to having him back in a Red Sox uniform,” said Pothakos.
Several new pitchers will report to the provincial capital for work in the rotation and the bullpen.
Tristan Eberle is a 6-foot-4 Regina product who has represented Team Saskatchewan before. The Arizona Western College student is described by Pothakos as a “big right-handed pitcher with velocity and a high ceiling.”
Local righty is Quinn Boreen, who has suited up for the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), has been added to the Red Sox roster.
Another pair of new righthanders – Aiden Shumaker and Kris Hahn – are expected to bolster the starting rotation. Both players pitch for Edgewood University.
Florida’s Garrett Mullins is a 5-foot-11 right-handed senior at Point University, and Israel Johnson is a Missouri State West Plains University righty from Arkansas.
David Gordon is a righty reliever who has closed out games for Arizona Christian University, and lefty Samuel Jackson is a University of New Mexico student from Sydney, Australia who can work as either a starting pitcher or a middle reliever.
One other southpaw who is new to the team is Terrius Causey, a 6-foot-1 sophomore at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
COACHING
After delivering the first WCBL championship to the Queen City since 2012, Rye Pothakos has signed on for another season with the Regina Red Sox.
The team made the announcement in December that Pothakos will return as the director of baseball operations and field manager with Regina.
“Rye has been a major part of our organization for more than a decade.,” said Gary Brotzel, the president of baseball operations for the Red Sox.
“His ability to consistently recruit a strong lineup has kept our club in contention year after year. That was never more evident than last season, when he stepped in late to fill key holes in our lineup and ultimately helped bring a championship back to Regina.”
The Red Sox went 29-27 during the 2025 regular season and late summer roster churn made them heavy underdogs in the playoffs. Despite the loss of key players heading into the postseason, Regina upset the Mavericks, Berries and Gulls on their way to a championship title.
“I’m looking forward to another exciting year at Currie Field and working hard to provide our fans and community with another quality, talented team that we can all be very proud of,” said Pothakos.
Other personnel moves by the Red Sox include the return of Mitch MacDonald as assistant general manager. It’s his 12th season with the club after previously serving as a player, coach and GM in Regina. MacDonald remains the only player in WCBL history to win the Triple Crown after batting .476 with eight home runs and 48 RBI in 2010.
“Having Mitch MacDonald return with his experience is a valuable part of our team and management group,” said Pothakos.
“He brings a deep understanding of the organization and will be a great resource as we continue to build our program.”
Zane Pollon, a product of Wilcox, Saskatchewan who took the bump for the Red Sox in 2022 and 2023, has been signed as the pitching coach.
Rounding out the stable of dugout leaders are assistant coaches Jackson Alaniz and Braydon Cobb, as well as team trainer Todd Stewart.
“They all know this league and understand what it takes to be successful, including the culture and commitment needed day in and day out,” stated Pothakos.
Home Ballpark: Currie Field
Home Opener: 6:05 p.m., Saturday, May 30th vs. Medicine Hat Mavericks
2025 Regular Season Results: 3rd place in East Division with 29 wins & 27 losses
2025 Playoff Results: WCBL Championship victory over the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the final; 6-2 postseason record
View 2026 Regina Red Sox Roster
WCBL Championships: 2011, 2012 & 2025
Tales of Baseball 