Betts: AHP Renegades believe preparation will guide them on Road to Okotoks

This AHP Renegades team won the Spokane Wood Bat Championship last July. Photo: AHP Renegades/X

May 21, 2026

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The time has almost arrived for the AHP Renegades Baseball Academy.

The team will hit the field for its Road to Okotoks qualifier beginning on May 28 in Lethbridge, but the tournament has been on the minds of players and coaches since it was announced back in September.

It may be a relatively new program, one that was founded in 2021 by former Central Missouri Mule right-hander Taylor Burns (St. Albert, Alta.), but the sights are set high.

“We believe in a principle of 'sinking to the level of our training.' We’ve been training and practicing six days per week together since Sept. 1,” Burns said.

“Our expectations are to compete to the best of our ability and give ourselves the best chance to be the last team standing.”

Thirteen teams make up the Prairie Qualifier, with AHP slotted into Pool C alongside the Calgary Cubs, Parkland Twins and Webber Wildcats Prep.

Pool A consists of the Calgary Bucks, HR Sports Academy, Okotoks Dawgs White, Sylvan Lake Gulls Prep and Vauxhall Academy.

Pool B features ATHX, the Calgary Premier Blues, Okotoks Dawgs Red and Team Saskatchewan.

AHP goes up against Webber in its opener on Day 1 before taking on the Parkland Twins, Calgary Cubs and Okotoks Dawgs Red to close out round robin play.

Three teams will advance, along with 11 combined from the Ontario and British Columbia qualifiers, to the national championship tournament for a chance to compete for the Morneau Cup at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks from July 14 to 19.

“It's an awesome opportunity to compete for a national championship against the best programs in the country,” Burns said.

“We believe in our depth and all 25 players are key cogs in this team's success.”

Burns points to the chemistry his program has created, thanks to a tight-knit roster built by coaches who focus on relationships, as what sets it apart.

While the goal is to win, the chance to play on a pressure packed stage will certainly be beneficial for player development, he believes.

“Ultimately, training and practice are to prepare you to try to perform in the moments that matter most,” he said.

“It's a great opportunity for our group and players to get a taste of that and it will serve them in their respective baseball careers in the years to follow.”