By IAN WILSON
The Western Canadian Baseball League season is in full swing and there are a number of players we’re excited to renew acquaintances with this summer.
Let’s take a look around the WCBL at 25 players we’re pumped to see take the mound, step into the batter’s box or show off their throws from the outfield:
BRADY BYE
Reigning WCBL Playoff MVP Brady Bye will once again be bashing baseballs for the Red Sox. The local infielder and 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.
CONNOR CROWSON
The “Crow Show” was named the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award winner after batting over .400 in 2025. Connor Crowson entered this campaign with 223 regular season and postseason games for the Okotoks Dawgs over the last five years. In that time, the hometown hero has a .360 batting average, 18 home runs, 177 RBI, 193 runs and 24 stolen bases. He was also named the 2024 WCBL Playoff MVP after delivering a walk-off home run that sealed a third straight championship for the Dawgs.
ETHAN MURDOCH
Outfielder Ethan Murdoch, who was tops on the Saskatoon Berries in RBI with 53 in 50 regular season games in 2025, will be suiting up at NexGen Patch at Cairns Field for a second season. The former member of the Swift Current 57’s collected 47 runs, 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 13 stolen bases and a .325 batting average last year.
COOPER CIESIELSKI
One of the major returning players with the Sylvan Lake Gulls was not along for the playoff ride last summer, but he’s a big-name batter. Outfielder Cooper Ciesielski, a Southeastern University student from Colorado, went on a tear during his 2024 season with Sylvan Lake. In 47 regular-season contests that year, Ciesielski had a .382 batting average with 53 RBI and 43 runs scored. The righty hitter finished tied for the league lead in home runs (13) and doubles (21), and stood alone in leading the WCBL in slugging percentage (.758), OPS (1.253), secondary average (.533) and isolated power (.376). His lethal bat helped Ciesielski win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, as selected by coaches from across the WCBL.
WESTIN WALLS
On the bump, look for Moose Jaw Miller Express ace Westin Walls to baffle batters yet again. The 6-foot-5 righthander from Terrell, Texas led the WCBL in regular season strikeouts (89) and innings pitched (72.1) in 2025. He is entering his third season with the Miller Express. Over 32 total games and 124-plus innings in the WCBL before this season, Walls was 9-7 with five saves, 135 strikeouts and a 5.43 ERA.
CARTER CLAERHOUT
First baseman Carter Claerhout returns for a third season in Lethbridge. In 64 games with the Bulls, including two playoff matchups, the lefty slugger has produced 50 RBI, 46 runs, 10 homers and a .336 batting average. The Red Deer product had a spectacular season with Bellevue University in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), where he batted .491 with 29 home runs, 86 RBI, 78 runs and 12 stolen bases in 56 games. Claerhout was named the Frontier Conference Player of the Year for his outstanding campaign.
BRAYDEN MAYENCOURT
A versatile player who can chew up innings as a pitcher, frame pitches behind the dish or pluck out grounders from the infield, Brayden Mayencourt is a highly useful option for the Weyburn Beavers. He has been with the Beavers since 2022 and in 136 games as a batter, Mayencourt has 127 hits, 75 runs, 64 RBI, 23 doubles and 10 long balls. During his occasional trips to the mound as a relief pitcher, he has logged 18 innings over 14 games and picked up 14 strikeouts in those appearances. At Central Baptist College over the last two years, Mayencourt batted .330 with a .425 on-base percentage, 85 RBI and six long balls in 101 games.
ASHE AMMERLAAN
Strikeout maestro Ashe Ammerlaan is back for another summer in the WCBL with Fort McMurray. The Oranjestad, Aruba native was masterful with the Giants in 2025. In 12 games – including six starts – and 36 innings last year, the lefthander piled up 70 strikeouts while going 2-3 with a 4.25 earned run average (ERA). The senior has made 20 appearances at Montreat College over the last two seasons and has 111 Ks in 69 innings.
CARTER ROTH
Carter Roth, a second sacker and third baseman from Stratford, Ontario, was one of the top hitters in the WCBL last year. In 50 regular season games, the Doane University student produced 84 hits, including 10 doubles and five home runs. In addition to his .380 batting average, Roth scored 40 runs and drove in 54 runs.
JUSTIN SIMARD
Clutch playoff performer Justin Simard is back for another season. With the Regina Red Sox down to their final strike against the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the second game of the 2025 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. Described as a “Swiss Army Knife type player” by field manager Rye Pothakos, Simard can play three infield positions and handle outfield responsibilities when needed.
MATTHEW MACKENZIE
Nova Scotian Matthew Mackenzie led the Gulls pitching staff in innings pitched during the 2025 regular season before making two postseason starts for Sylvan Lake. The 6-foot-2 righty went 2-3 with a 3.24 earned run average (ERA) and 50 strikeouts in 13 games and 50 total innings last summer. He’ll be counted on again in big moments this season at Gulls Field.
WILLIAM EDWARDS
Australian outfielder William Edwards – who finished third in WCBL MVP voting in 2025 – is back to lead the offence of the Moose Jaw Miller Express. Edwards led the league in doubles, with 22, and tied the WCBL single-season record for runs batted in (RBI), with 66. In his 55 games, he batted .364 with nine home runs, 60 runs and 11 stolen bases.
RICARDO SANCHEZ
Ricardo Sanchez has been a part of four WCBL championship teams in Okotoks. Since 2019, the Mexican middle infielder has suited up in more than 200 contests with the Dawgs. Entering the season, Sanchez recorded 226 hits, 128 RBI, 178 runs, 43 stolen bases and 144 walks over 755 WCBL at bats. He’s coming off a standout season at Gonzaga University, where he posted a .363 batting average, 42 runs, 34 RBI and four homers in 51 games for the Bulldogs. Sanchez, who was named 2022 WCBL MVP, earned First Team All West Coast Conference honours with the Zags. He was also named a semifinalist for the 2026 Brooks Wallace Award, which is given annually to top college shortstop in the nation.
TANNER HOSICK
Tanner Hosick was outstanding for the Saskatoon Berries in 2025. The righty appeared in 19 WCBL games, including three postseason contests. Over 25 innings, the Nebraska native racked up 28 strikeouts and five saves, while registering a 2-3 record and a 2.16 ERA. He did not allow an earned run or a walk in five playoff innings.
KALEM HANEY
Veteran middle infielder Kalem Haney is making a comeback after not playing in the WCBL last year. The left-handed batter from Lethbridge played in 172 games with the Bulls between 2021 and 2024. He hit .307 with 139 runs, 84 RBI, 44 stolen bases and 34 doubles. The senior at the University of Mary has suited up in 175 games over the last four years with the Marauders, where he registered a .329 batting average, 167 runs, 97 RBI, 14 homers, 28 stolen bases and 41 doubles.
JOHNNY VULCANO
Doane University student Johnny Vulcano – one of three Vulcano brothers on the Medicine Hat Mavericks in 2025 – is back for more at Athletic Park this summer. He has appeared in 142 WCBL contests as a middle infielder since 2023, manufacturing 134 hits, 97 runs and 64 RBI in 538 at bats.
ZANDER OUDIE-SENGER
Long-time local talent Zander Oudie-Senger will take the mound for the Regina 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.
ASHTON LUERA
High-octane reliever Ashton Luera – an absolute force for the Dawgs in helping lock down a 2024 WCBL championship before being limited by injury last year – is seeking a return to form. The righthander from Oklahoma Wesleyan University has made 34 appearances for Okotoks, including seven in the postseason. Over 37.1 innings, the Albuquerque, New Mexico native has nine saves, a 1.93 ERA and an absurd 69 strikeouts.
THOMAS SOTO
Back for a fourth summer to anchor the middle infield at Ross Wells Park is Texan Thomas Soto, a switch hitter who set a WCBL single-season record for runs last year by crossing the plate 70 times. In his 143 regular season games and 14 postseason contests with the Miller Express, Soto is batting .319 with 176 runs, 76 RBI, 31 doubles and 66 stolen bases.
NATHAN HOUSTON
Melville, Saskatchewan native Nathan Houston is back in the Berries infield. The right-handed batter played a total of 55 games for Saskatoon last summer, including six playoff matchups. In 226 at bats, he had 55 runs, 42 RBI, 22 stolen bases and a .305 batting average.
BERNIE SOCCARAS
The reigning WCBL batting champ is coming back to Alberta to barrel up more baseballs. Outfielder/infielder Bernie Soccaras, who suited up in 13 games with the Lethbridge Bulls in 2024, was a hitting machine last year. In 41 games, Soccaras had a .405 batting average, .483 on-base percentage, 47 runs, 23 RBI, 13 doubles and 19 stolen bases.
NATHAN PISIO
Moose Jaw high schooler Nathan Pisio was a revelation as the primary closer for the Miller Express in 2025, his second campaign with the WCBL squad. The right-handed reliever has taken the mound in 22 playoff and regular season contests for the Millers. In 28-plus innings, Pisio is 3-2 with a 3.18 ERA, 28 strikeouts and six saves.
AIDAN MAXWELL
Aidan Maxwell is a Brooks product who appeared in a pair of games for the Bombers in 2023 before getting into 14 WCBL contests last year. The reliever went 1-1 with 16 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched for the Bomb Squad. Maxwell had a strong season in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) with the Okanagan College Coyotes.
NASH CROWELL
The all-time home run leader for the Okotoks Dawgs is back for another summer. Nova Scotian Nash Crowell has knocked out 29 long balls in 113 games, while adding 113 RBI, 85 runs, 20 doubles and a .305 batting average since 2023. The first baseman and designated hitter – a fan favourite during the Home Run Derby at the last two WCBL All-Star Games in Okotoks – is a teammate of Crowson’s at both Seaman Stadium and Tennessee Tech University.
BEN WALICZEK
Speedy infielder Ben Waliczek has signed on for a second season in Moose Jaw. The righty batter from Wichita, Kansas played a total of 59 games with the Miller Express in 2025. Through 175 regular season and playoff at bats, he scored 62 runs, notched 26 RBI and swiped 34 bags.
Honourable mentions: Nick Sauve (Fort McMurray Giants); Brennan McTavish (Lethbridge Bulls); Leo Cote (Okotoks Dawgs); Brody Forno (Okotoks Dawgs); Evan Morrison (Medicine Hat Mavericks); Michael Sall (Saskatoon Berries); Robert Gurney (Weyburn Beavers); Rydell Adair (Swift Current 57’s); Brock Tijerina (Sylvan Lake Gulls); Daniel Crabtree (Regina Red Sox)
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