I cannot wipe the smile off of my son's face everyday. The best decision of his life...
~Parent of Student-Athlete
You make a huge impact on these kids’ lives, at such a critical time in their life, being an amazing mentor, role model and coach for them, both in life and on the field. We know you made them better ball players but, more importantly, taught them how to do things the right way in everything they do, which we know (he) still carries forward with. We sincerely appreciate everything you did for him and the positive influence you had in his life.
~Parent of Student-Athlete
The Diamondawgs School of Baseball is an incredibly unique training and development opportunity for baseball players in Calgary. Our junior high program operates as an extension of the school day and provides a number of positive benefits:
1. Student athletes have the ability to develop multi-sport athleticism because they are not training for baseball late into the evening and through the weekend. It also provides better life balance and the opportunity to develop other areas of their life.
2. Training at the end of the school day creates more time in the evenings for students to focus on their academics.
3. Our program develops better baseball players, but our teaching curriculum is centered around developing outstanding youth. Having our training connected with the school provides many more avenues to develop our student-athletes on a personal level.
Our yearly training is broken into 3 different categories:
1. Baseball Training Sessions:
These sessions take place either on the field (Sept-Thanksgiving & April-May) or indoors (Thanksgiving to mid April). We teach position specific details as well as discuss, in depth, all team systems. While indoors players have the opportunity to make significant adjustments to their mechanics and see exponential improvements when combined with quality repetitions and work in the weight room.
2. Strength, Conditioning & Movement Skills:
Besides the detail of our instruction and our classroom sessions, the School of Baseball strength and conditioning program is what sets us apart from any other baseball program in this area. Our head strength coach, Jeff Osadec, has significant experience working with amateur and professional athletes and he has in depth knowledge of baseball mechanics and how to improve those skills through strength development in the weight room. Learn more about Coach Osadec HERE.
We also have Coach Glenn Vergie working with our athletes to improve their sprint speed and on-field movement skills. Learn more about Coach Vergie HERE.
3. Classroom Sessions:
As part of our indoor skill training sessions we integrate a classroom curriculum. We cover topics such as mental skills training, leadership, skills analysis through video, and baseball specific "chalk talk".
Training Locations:
September to mid October: Glenmore Athletic Park
mid October to mid April: Diamondawgs Training Centre
April-May: Glenmore Athletic Park
Overview of Junior High Program
Application Process:
1. Consider attending a training session to have an opportunity to meet our coaches and work with our current student-athletes. Fill out the form below if you are interested in experiencing a Diamondawgs School of Baseball session.
2. Fill out the Student-Athlete Application form (link to online application below).
3. Once the Diamondawgs staff receive the completed application, we will contact you to book a 1-on-1 skill evaluation and interview. The evaluation and interview will take about 60 minutes.
4. The results of the evaluation and interview will be considered along with the submitted academic report and a review of the coach & teacher reference. A decision on acceptance is typically made within 14 days of the skill evaluation and interview.
5. Start communicating with your school administration about their willingness to support this extracurricular opportunity. Junior high students will need to be able to miss their final class of the day on Monday, Wednesday, and possibly Friday (if Friday is a full day).
Please note that transportation is NOT provided for the Jr High Program.
For more information about this program please contact Miki Kawahara
Registration is on-going throughout the year.
1. Student athletes have the ability to develop multi-sport athleticism because they are not training for baseball late into the evening and through the weekend. It also provides better life balance and the opportunity to develop other areas of their life.
2. Training at the end of the school day creates more time in the evenings for students to focus on their academics.
3. Our program develops better baseball players, but our teaching curriculum is centered around developing outstanding youth. Having our training connected with the school provides many more avenues to develop our student-athletes on a personal level.
Our yearly training is broken into 3 different categories:
1. Baseball Training Sessions:
These sessions take place either on the field (Sept-Thanksgiving & April-May) or indoors (Thanksgiving to mid April). We teach position specific details as well as discuss, in depth, all team systems. While indoors players have the opportunity to make significant adjustments to their mechanics and see exponential improvements when combined with quality repetitions and work in the weight room.
2. Strength, Conditioning & Movement Skills:
Besides the detail of our instruction and our classroom sessions, the School of Baseball strength and conditioning program is what sets us apart from any other baseball program in this area. Our head strength coach, Jeff Osadec, has significant experience working with amateur and professional athletes and he has in depth knowledge of baseball mechanics and how to improve those skills through strength development in the weight room. Learn more about Coach Osadec HERE.
We also have Coach Glenn Vergie working with our athletes to improve their sprint speed and on-field movement skills. Learn more about Coach Vergie HERE.
3. Classroom Sessions:
As part of our indoor skill training sessions we integrate a classroom curriculum. We cover topics such as mental skills training, leadership, skills analysis through video, and baseball specific "chalk talk".
Training Locations:
September to mid October: Glenmore Athletic Park
mid October to mid April: Diamondawgs Training Centre
April-May: Glenmore Athletic Park
Overview of Junior High Program
- 3-day per week academy schedule consisting of nearly 160 hours of training.
- Students-athletes complete their training as an extension of the school day. Training is complete by 4:00pm during the fall and spring and 5:00pm during the winter.
- Full membership access to the Diamondawgs Training Centre during June and July.
- Approximately 15 intrasquad games during the fall and spring (dependent on registration).
- Training sessions through the winter will be a mix of baseball skill development and strength and conditioning.
- Baseball skill development sessions will include position specific instruction, team defensive systems, as well as slow motion analysis of pitching, hitting, and defensive techniques. Teaching will take place mostly in small group sessions and will be held both outdoors (fall and spring) and indoors (winter months).
- Strength and conditioning sessions will be run by a certified profession and will be built to coincide with each player’s competition schedule.
- Speed and agility training.
- Classroom sessions will cover a wide range of baseball-related assignments, mental skills training and nutrition.
- Comprehensive apparel package.
- A coaching staff consisting of qualified teachers who have professional and college experience.
- Performance testing to measure progress.
- Top quality indoor and outdoor facilities.
- Skill evaluations after receiving student-athlete application.
- All players return to the program of their choice during the on-season.
Application Process:
1. Consider attending a training session to have an opportunity to meet our coaches and work with our current student-athletes. Fill out the form below if you are interested in experiencing a Diamondawgs School of Baseball session.
2. Fill out the Student-Athlete Application form (link to online application below).
3. Once the Diamondawgs staff receive the completed application, we will contact you to book a 1-on-1 skill evaluation and interview. The evaluation and interview will take about 60 minutes.
4. The results of the evaluation and interview will be considered along with the submitted academic report and a review of the coach & teacher reference. A decision on acceptance is typically made within 14 days of the skill evaluation and interview.
5. Start communicating with your school administration about their willingness to support this extracurricular opportunity. Junior high students will need to be able to miss their final class of the day on Monday, Wednesday, and possibly Friday (if Friday is a full day).
Please note that transportation is NOT provided for the Jr High Program.
For more information about this program please contact Miki Kawahara
Registration is on-going throughout the year.
Academy Alumni
There are dozens of Baseball Alumni since 2007 (the programs inaugural year) who went on to play college baseball. Here are a few:
Cole Alguire - Grad 2020
Transfer to Vauxhall Baseball Academy
Ethan Balogh - Grad 2018
Mendocino College, CA (CCCAA)
Graceland University, IA (NAIA)
Bobby Bogensberg - Grad 2007
California State University East Bay, CA (NCAA-II)
Glendale Community College, CA
New Mexico Junior College, NM
Noah Carlson - Grad 2021
University of Calgary (CCBC)
Koll Cherkowski - Grad 2019
Thompson Rivers University, BC (CCBC)
Donovan Feenstra - Grad 2010
University of the Cumberlands, KY (NAIA)
Professionally with 2 Independent Teams
Raj Gill - Grad 2018
Prairie Baseball Academy, AB (CCBC)
Nicholas Granton - Grad 2010
Northern State College, SD (NCAA-II)
Truman State University, MO (NCAA-II)
Bayley Hartl - Grad 2018
Cabrillo College, CA (CCCAA)
Michael Heaton - Grad 2013
Spokane Falls Community College (NWAC)
University of British Columbia (NAIA)
Nolan Hines - Grad 2020
Clark College, WA (NWAC)
Wylie Johnston - Grad 2012
University of Calgary (CCBC)
Tyler Lowey - Grad 2008
Thompson Rivers University, BC (CCBC)
Andrew Malone - Grad 2010
Colorado Mesa University, CO (NCAA-II)
Callum McKay - Grad 2021
Okanagan College, BC (CCBC)
Jeremy McPhee - Grad 2011
Jamestown College, ND (NAIA)
Brad Mikalishen - Grad 2020
Prairie Baseball Academy, AB (CCBC)
Blake Nelson - Grad 2020
Douglas College, BC (NWAC)
Cashe Newans - Grad 2021
University of Calgary (CCBC)
Dymitri Pavlove - Grad 2019
Big Bend Community College, WA (NWAC)
Prairie Baseball Academy, AB (CCBC)
*2019 Central Memorial Grade 12 Athlete of the Year
Nick Pelletier - Grad 2015
Okanagan College, BC (CCBC)
*Qualified for 2019 Age Group World Triathlon Championships (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Levi Pellett - Grad 2017
PBA in Lethbridge, AB (CCBC)
Dillon Rouleau - Grad 2019
University of Calgary, AB (CCBC)
*2019 Central Memorial Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year
Braydon Saunders - Grad 2017
University of Calgary, AB (CCBC)
Carson Tronnes - Grad 2021
Okanagan College, BC (CCBC)
Cole Alguire - Grad 2020
Transfer to Vauxhall Baseball Academy
Ethan Balogh - Grad 2018
Mendocino College, CA (CCCAA)
Graceland University, IA (NAIA)
Bobby Bogensberg - Grad 2007
California State University East Bay, CA (NCAA-II)
Glendale Community College, CA
New Mexico Junior College, NM
Noah Carlson - Grad 2021
University of Calgary (CCBC)
Koll Cherkowski - Grad 2019
Thompson Rivers University, BC (CCBC)
Donovan Feenstra - Grad 2010
University of the Cumberlands, KY (NAIA)
Professionally with 2 Independent Teams
Raj Gill - Grad 2018
Prairie Baseball Academy, AB (CCBC)
Nicholas Granton - Grad 2010
Northern State College, SD (NCAA-II)
Truman State University, MO (NCAA-II)
Bayley Hartl - Grad 2018
Cabrillo College, CA (CCCAA)
Michael Heaton - Grad 2013
Spokane Falls Community College (NWAC)
University of British Columbia (NAIA)
Nolan Hines - Grad 2020
Clark College, WA (NWAC)
Wylie Johnston - Grad 2012
University of Calgary (CCBC)
Tyler Lowey - Grad 2008
Thompson Rivers University, BC (CCBC)
Andrew Malone - Grad 2010
Colorado Mesa University, CO (NCAA-II)
Callum McKay - Grad 2021
Okanagan College, BC (CCBC)
Jeremy McPhee - Grad 2011
Jamestown College, ND (NAIA)
Brad Mikalishen - Grad 2020
Prairie Baseball Academy, AB (CCBC)
Blake Nelson - Grad 2020
Douglas College, BC (NWAC)
Cashe Newans - Grad 2021
University of Calgary (CCBC)
Dymitri Pavlove - Grad 2019
Big Bend Community College, WA (NWAC)
Prairie Baseball Academy, AB (CCBC)
*2019 Central Memorial Grade 12 Athlete of the Year
Nick Pelletier - Grad 2015
Okanagan College, BC (CCBC)
*Qualified for 2019 Age Group World Triathlon Championships (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Levi Pellett - Grad 2017
PBA in Lethbridge, AB (CCBC)
Dillon Rouleau - Grad 2019
University of Calgary, AB (CCBC)
*2019 Central Memorial Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year
Braydon Saunders - Grad 2017
University of Calgary, AB (CCBC)
Carson Tronnes - Grad 2021
Okanagan College, BC (CCBC)