Posts in Alberta Dugout Stories
McFarland: Brotherly advice has helped Zdunich excel at Colby

“They’re competitive, but Turner Zdunich says there is no sibling rivalry between he and his three brothers.

That being said, he may still be reveling in the fact that he has eclipsed his older brother, Tucker, in a couple of career milestones at Colby Community College.

Over the course of three seasons (one shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic), the elder Zdunich hit .317 with 20 home runs and 86 runs batted in over 119 games with the Trojans.

With two weeks left in his second spring at Colby, Turner now has a career batting average of .386 to go along with 22 round trippers and 103 RBIs in 97 games.”

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McFarland: Kucy closing out collegiate career at St. Bonaventure as full-time pitcher

“Coming to the ballpark for a game day looks a lot different for Ryan Kucy than it did when he first started going to college.

The Edmonton native came out of AHP Academy as a highly regarded infielder and performed very well in his first two seasons at Northeastern Junior College.

Everything was going according to plan when he made the move to St. Bonaventure University and was getting regular playing time at third base.

However, a month into his junior season, the Bonnies’ pitching staff ran into injury troubles, leaving head coach Jason Rathbun to find some reinforcements.

Enter Kucy, who had pitched in a couple of games for the Edmonton Prospects during the summer of 2024.”

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McFarland: Van De Keere draws on dad’s wisdom in first season as head coach with new UBC team

“He has learned from some of the greatest baseball coaches Alberta has ever seen.

And for a moment on Opening Weekend of the Canadian College Baseball Conference season, University Baseball Club (based out of the University of British Columbia) head coach Devery Van De Keere decided to channel one of his favourites: his father, Keith.

Despite losing three of their four games against Prairie Baseball Academy, the Barrhead native was proud of how his team competed, keeping it close against a team viewed as a potential championship contender.

That gave Van De Keere the perfect opportunity to impart some wisdom he received from his dad: “Humble in victory, no excuses in defeat.”

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Wilson: Tugboat makes waves at WBC

“Tip your cap to Tugboat.

If sports fans didn't know who Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson was before the World Baseball Classic, they sure do now.

The lefty pitcher from Ladner, B.C. played for the Okotoks Dawgs in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) from 2019 to 2023. In that time, Wilkinson went 6-3 with five saves in 22 games - half of them starts - and racked up 121 strikeouts through 71-plus innings. He was also a member of three WCBL championship teams in Okotoks.”

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McFarland: Flewelling’s strong finish to 2025 boosts him up Rays’ prospects ranks

“It didn’t start the way he wanted but Nathan Flewelling ended the 2025 baseball season with a bang.

He’s hoping it’s a sign of things to come as he takes part in his second Spring Training with the Tampa Bay Rays, where the Innisfail native has climbed up the depth charts and is now ranked the No. 11 prospect in the organization.”

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McFarland: Pitching for Canada at WBC fulfills dream for Macko

“He’s waited longer than he had hoped to represent Canada.

And when he finally gets the opportunity to do it at the World Baseball Classic, Adam Macko plans to soak it all in.

Ever since receiving the call from Baseball Canada Men’s National Team director Greg Hamilton, the 25-year-old has been thinking about stepping into the clubhouse and putting on the red, white and black for the first time.”

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McFarland: Coutney enjoying road up Angels’ ranks

“Matt Coutney has taken the term ‘roadtrip’ to a whole new level.

While some might be tired of driving along the highway after a long season of professional baseball, the Wetaskiwin native has created a new pre-Spring Training tradition.

Since he was selected in the 10th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft by the Los Angeles Angels, he’s made the trek to Arizona each spring by driving.

It’s a chance to unwind before getting down to business, checking out some hiking trails and catching the local sights and sounds.”

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McFarland: Wilkinson gets WBC call from Canada

“It’s almost time to set sail.

He might be the youngest player on Baseball Canada’s roster at the World Baseball Classic, but Matt Wilkinson is always willing to enter uncharted waters.

The 22-year-old has excelled at every level of baseball he’s played, from Little League in his hometown of Ladner, B.C. and high school at Dawgs Academy in Okotoks to the Western Canadian Baseball League and at Central Arizona College.”

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Wilson: Road to Okotoks generating buzz

“Believe the hype.

A new Baseball Canada national championship that is being hosted by the Okotoks Dawgs is getting plenty of attention from Major League Baseball (MLB) players from across the country.

The Road to Okotoks will see 16 elite academy teams compete for the Morneau Cup, which is named after Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer and former American League MVP Justin Morneau. The prestigious prize will be awarded at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks in mid-July of 2026 to the top team of amateur baseball players who are 19 years old or younger.”

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Wilson: McFarlane and the McGwire ball bonanza

“It was memorabilia mayhem.

Calgary-born Todd McFarlane was right in the middle of the collectible chaos and emerged with one of the most sought-after pieces of sporting history.

This is a story of a slugger, his incredible feat, and baseball fanaticism run amok. Only those with the fattest wallets were invited to this party, and the ensuing media attention grabbed more headlines than a celebrity scandal.

More simply, this is just a tale about a baseball. And yet, it is so much more than that.”

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McFarland: Canadian Tofteland getting ready for Banana Ball

“It might be a while before “Dancin’ Dane” Tofteland is a nickname that sticks.

But don’t be surprised to see the Albertan from just outside Grande Prairie bust a move or two when he suits up in the brand new Banana Ball circuit next summer.

Selected in the seventh round of the league’s inaugural draft by the Loco Beach Coconuts, Tofteland is coming off a successful collegiate career at Indiana State University and a three-year run in the Pioneer League.”

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McFarland: From batboy to Alberta Hall of Famer, Franchuk has had legendary career

“It could have been easy for Orv Franchuk to dislike or even hate baseball right from the very start.

Growing up on the farm near Wandering River, he remembers being six or seven years old when his older brother would drag him outside to play “catch.”

The youngster would get placed in front of the garage door while his hand-eye coordination developed, which made for some bruises on his shins and shoulders.

“I’d be crying and go into the house and get cleaned up by mom,” Franchuk told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “My dad would push me back out there.”

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