2024 Best of the West: Alberta Scouting Notes
May 10, 2024
Another Best of the West Tournament in Kamloops, British Columbia is behind us which means the baseball season is in full swing across the country. Each year, the tournament includes top club programs from Alberta and British Columbia, as well as a couple programs beyond the West Coast such as the HPP Tigers (Ontario) and Prep Baseball Canada's 18U National Team.
The tournament provides some of the most exciting games and action you'll see throughout the year, outside of national championship events. The Okotoks Dawgs took home the championship this year as they brought a loaded roster to Kamloops and didn't surrender a single loss, taking down the Langley Blaze in the final game.
With the tournament now completed, our staff will begin breaking down some of the top performers from the event. Below, we continue our Best of the West Standout Series with a look at the talent out of Alberta.
To view British Columbia Scouting Notes, click here.
To view Eastern Canada Scouting Notes, click here.
To view 15U Scouting Notes, click here.
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Michael Yusypchuk RHP / Okotoks Dawgs Academy, AB / 2024Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 1
At 6-foot-2, 210-pounds, Yusypchuk is one of the more polished arms in the country, and that was on full display at the Best of the West in his two outings. In his 7.1 innings pitched, he had 14 strikeouts to just 1 walk. The fastball sat in the 87-89 range and touched 90 mph. The ability to locate all 4 pitches in any count, as well as his ability to spin the baseball, allows the Missouri State commit to keep hitters off balance and generate plenty of both in-zone swing & miss, as well chase with his curveball. The Canadian Junior National Team member is set to have another dominant summer with the Okotoks Dawgs.
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Dominik Morgan C / OF / AHP, AB / 2024Rankings StateRank: 21 / POS: 2
The tools Morgan possesses were on full display at the Best of the West. At 6-foot-0, 205-pounds the present strength is evident. He finished the tournament going 4 for 10 with 3 RBIs while showing his upside behind the dish with his strong arm and ability to block. So far this season The uncommitted reclassed 2025 has only struck out twice in 40 plate appearances and will look to do much of the same as the summer season kicks off.
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Nathan Flewelling C / OF / St. Joseph, AB / 2024Rankings StateRank: 2 / POS: 1
Flewelling was one of the main attractions in the box during the Best of the West and he continued to show why, performing at a high level all week. The physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound catcher has added significant size to his frame, which helped him back-spin baseballs to all parts of the field, came up in a couple big AB’s this weekend and delivered. Behind the dish, he showed advanced catch and throw with a 1.90 in-game pop-time. Flewelling has really inserted himself as one of the top prospects here in 2024 and will be one to watch as we inch closer to the MLB Draft.
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Eric Machej SS / Okotoks Dawgs Academy, AB / 2024Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 3
Standing at 6-foot-3, 190-pounds, Machej looks the part in the IF and at the plate. Throughout the week Machej continuously showed the ability to hit, coming through in a couple big moments for the Dawgs as well. In particular an opposite field 2-run HR to catapult the Dawgs to a 5-3, in a Semi’s which they won 5-4. Then, in the finals came up with a timely bases loaded 2-run double to widen the Dawgs lead and give them some breathing room. A week of timely hits combined with the ability to use the whole field on a line, pairs for a good showing last week from the Illinois State commit.
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Jack Baxter LHP / OF / Vauxhall , AB / 2024Although the Indian Hills CC commit only had one start at the Best of the West, it was an impressive one. He struck out 8 while allowing just 3 hits over 5 innings. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound LHP showed a polished 3-pitch mix that he was able to locate for strikes. Baxter was heavy with the fastball and changeup and it proved effective. The fastball sat 86-88 mph and the changeup was one of the more lethal pitches we saw at the tournament. He killed velocity on it, as it came in at just 73-75 mph, and added fade/depth to it as it approached the plate. It generated plenty of both in-zone swing & miss, as well as chase down and out of the zone which helped add to his strikeout total. The Vauxhall Academy product will look to carry his success into the final summer of his high school career before heading off to school.
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Landon Kauffman OF / LHP / Okotoks Dawgs Academy, AB / 2024Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 3
Kauffman's hit-tool was on full display all week at the Best of the West. He finished with 7 hits, 3 of which were for extra bases. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound RHH has a short, compact swing and showed the ability to find the gaps, using his speed to be a threat on the bases as well. Kauffman has also been up to 93 mph from the outfield and showed that throughout the week, throwing out multiple runners. The Portland commit will be a threat all year in an already talented Okotoks Dawgs lineup.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2024 Calgary Blues Scout Day | AB | 05/10 | Optimist Athletic Park |
| 2024 Black Gold 47s Scout Day | AB | 05/15 | Turf Training Centre |
| 2024 Calgary Summer ID | AB | 06/26 | Webber Academy Athletic Park |
| 2024 New England Academic Games (Invite Only) | AB | 07/09 | Yale |
| Future Games (Class of 2026/27) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
| Junior Future Games (Class of 2028/29) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
| Senior Future Games (Class of 2025) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |