Bulls reflect on a strong season

By Lethbridge Herald on August 12, 2024.

Justin Seward – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – sports@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Bulls have wrapped up what turned out to be a great 25th anniversary season as a franchise in the Western Canadian Baseball League, following their exit on Friday night in their West Division playoff series against the Okotoks Dawgs.

The team was strong all season on both sides of the baseball.

“Offensively, we’re very good all year (and) defensively, same thing, really good,” said Ryan MacDonald, Bulls head coach.

“I’m proud of the guys that stuck it out. A lot of teams were shorthanded going into playoffs … where a lot of guys went back to school and we had quite a few guys kind of stick around and yeah it was a good season overall.”

The Bulls had to deal with a pitching shortage right from the onset of the season.

“We were short from the get-go and short (heading) into playoffs,” said MacDonald.

“We had some guys step up in big situations and battle for us, and we had guys step up that we didn’t think were going to fit those roles, and everyone kind of pulled their weight.”

Something to address this off season for MacDonald will see how he can fill the spots that are left by Josh Kabayama, Tyler Monroe and Carlin Dick who all finished their eligibility with the club.

“Just trying to fill those spots with guys that can be everyday guys,” said MacDonald.

Pitching will be high on the list, too.

“I feel like you can never have enough pitching in this league,” said MacDonald.

The home playoff game against Okotoks came to mind as a season highlight for MacDonald with having a good crowd for a win.

“Usually in the playoffs we don’t get decent crowds like we had in Game 2 and I think the fans were really invested in that game and they saw that we’re a scrappy little team and we’re never down and out of the game,” said MacDonald.

“That’s just kind of what I’m proud of all year is that wherever we were, (we) were never down and out.”

The Bulls were involved in crazy games throughout the summer including a 31-26 football-type of game against Brooks and more recently in the third and decisive game in the playoffs against Okotoks on Friday where the game went to 13 innings in a losing cause.

Another game that came to mind was when Jack Kalisky hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth and turned right around to pitch and close the game out.

“There’s so many games that you think back of and they’re just crazy games that you never forget,” said MacDonald.

Lethbridge set a single season record for most wins franchise history with 36.

Josh Kabayama hit for the cycle, which is when a player hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game, near the end of the season.

“This season really showed that we can be one of the better teams in this league and compete with the big dogs,” said Kalisky.

Sticking to what made the team successful this season will be key going into the 2025 season.

“Staying confident and knowing that we can win games in this league is one of the things that we need to stick to,” said Kalisky.

Kalisky will look forward to seeing returning players and coaches again next season.

“The coaches are really good guys and help us connect and win ball games,” said Kalisky.