OPINION: The Road to Okotoks

The road to Canadian baseball academy supremacy will go through Okotoks.

The idea of an academy national championship has been tossed around for years as programs want to show how they stack up against each from coast to coast to coast.

Joe McFarland shares some thoughts on how it’ll now be happening in Okotoks, Alberta.

Okotoks to Host Canadian Academy Championship

The road to Canadian baseball academy supremacy will run through Okotoks.

Baseball Canada and Dawgs Academy have announced the launch of “The Road to Okotoks” national championship, which will see 16 elite academy teams compete for the Morneau Cup.

Rauck is Rollin’

Like many Canadian kids who loved baseball, Mitchell Rauckman grew up as a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Even though he is primarily a pitcher himself, the Saskatoon native always enjoyed watching slugger Josh Donaldson.

He’s been to Rogers Centre to watch his favourite team play, and now he gets the opportunity to step on the turf at the Canadian Futures Showcase.

Remembering Jim Baba

He was a Canadian baseball giant.

Jim Baba had a profound impact on the game across Canada and around the globe, regarded as a well-respected and influential leader who served in a variety of roles including executive director of Baseball Canada from 2000 to 2021.

Baba recently passed away at the age of 69 following a long battle with blood cancer, resulting in a tidal wave of tributes from across the baseball world.

Celebrating the Sask Hall’s Class of 2025

They have been pioneers and trailblazers for baseball in communities across the province.

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated its 40th induction ceremony with the Class of 2025 in mid-August.

Saskatchewan Green and Bronze

Some were calling it the “Pool of Death.”

In a pool with B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, Team Saskatchewan persevered to capture bronze at the Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Brady’s Bunch

When he wasn’t getting it done with his bat, catcher Brady Bye was getting it done on the field with the Regina Red Sox pitching staff.

The home-grown talent, a student at Point University, was a consistent and steadying presence on the team heading into the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) postseason.

All in the Family

Eli Hansen grew up around the Weyburn Beavers.

His grandfather, Garnet, is the team president, while his father, Tyrel, was a star pitcher with the Beavers during his college days.

As the youngest Hansen trotted out to leftfield for his first Western Canadian Baseball League start with the Beavers on Aug. 2 against the Medicine Hat, the enormity of the situation wasn’t lost on him.

Honey for the Cubs

As Reese Brons crossed home plate to score the winning run to claim the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League title, there was an audible sigh of relief from the Saskatoon Cubs dugout.

And then … pandemonium as the celebration began.

After being knocked out in the semi-finals of the past two seasons, the Cubs were able to take the monkey off their backs in a big way with a 12-2 win over the Regina White Sox.

7th Inning Stretch: Brady Bye

Homegrown product Brady Bye will be looked upon for some veteran guidance as the Regina Red Sox get ready for the 2025 WCBL Playoffs.

The All-Star and Home Run Derby participant stopped by for a chat on Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast, leading out our latest 7th Inning Stretch.