Webber Canada Day Classic - Top Performers

Webber’s Canada Day Classic is always one of the highlights of the summer within the province. It brings together some of the top programs from across Alberta and BC to battle it out over 6 days until a champion is crowned on Canada Day. Amongst the Baseball Alberta programs, we take a look at 6 standouts from a great weekend of baseball.

Michael Szpak | 2026 | LHP | Fort McMurray Oil Giants | Uncommitted

Szpak, who was a member of Team Alberta at Canada Cup last fall, has been dominant on both sides of the ball all year for the Oil Giants. That dominance continued at the Webber Canada Day Classic. On the mound he had a strong outing against a talented Webber Wildcats Prep team in which he showed his pitchability, locating a 3 pitch mix for strikes. The fastball worked on both sides of the plate and sat 82-84 mph. The curveball has depth, often working backwards and using it to get ahead in counts. His swing & miss stuff has produced 50 strikeouts in 30 IP this year while only walking 5. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound two-way player has also been one of the more impactful bats for Fort McMurray, slashing .403/.479/.579 with 7 extra-base hits. The uncommitted 2026 is most definitely a player to follow as we near 18U AAA provincials.

Matthew Becher | 2026 | 1B | Sherwood Park Dukes | Uncommitted

The Dukes offence has been rolling recently and a big reason for that is Becher who has consistently been doing damage from the leadoff spot. He had 6 hits over the weekend, 3 of which were doubles. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound first baseman uses the entire field well, with two of those doubles from the weekend being hit to his backside. There’s feel for the barrel, rarely swinging and missing inside the strike zone. The uncommitted 2026 is defensively strong at first base and will look to continue swinging a hot bat as we near the end of the BAEL season.

Ethan Pittman | 2026 | SS | Fort McMurray Oil Giants | Uncommitted

Pittman is a name to know within the province of Alberta. The athletic shortstop is a 6.9 runner with twitch that stands out on both sides of the ball. He moves well on the dirt and has a strong arm that will allow him to stay on the left side of the infield long term. There’s bat speed and feel for the barrel in his left handed swing, having only struck out 3 times in 73 plate appearances this season. He also doesn’t chase out of the zone having accumulated 23 walks, a 31.5% walk rate. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound uncommitted 2026 was a member of Team Alberta at Canada Cup last year and has only continued to get better since that point.

Tyler Anquist | 2026 | RHP/INF | Sherwood Park Dukes | Uncommitted

Anquist has quietly had a very effective season on the mound for the Dukes. He won’t blow you away with his repertoire, however, he fills the zone (63% strike rate) and gets ahead in the count (62% first pitch strike rate). He generates plenty of weak contact and in his 9 starts this year, including the Webber Canada Day Classic, he has thrown 6 or more innings 6 times, with 3 complete games. His 2.84 ERA this season leads the Dukes and is one of the best in the BAEL. With pitchability already present, the 5-foot-9, 150-pound uncommitted 2026 will look to add strength to his frame to take that next step. 

Lincoln Fugle | 2026 | OF/RHP | Fort McMurray Oil Giants | Uncommitted

At 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more physical two-way player as impactful as Fugle is on both sides of the ball. He hasn’t given up an earned run on the mound in 29.1 IP this year, including his start at the Webber Canada Day Classic, while also putting together a 1.198 OPS in 60 plate appearances. The fastball sits 83-85 mph with arm side run and the breaking ball has two-plane break making it an effective swing & miss offering. He also fills the strike zone, having only walked 4 in 23 IP during league play. At the dish, Fugle has been just as good. During league play he’s slashing .388/.483/.714 with 9 extra base hits, including 3 home runs. That success carried into this weekend in which he went 6 for 10 with 2 doubles, a triple, and an opposite field HR. The uncommitted 2026s stock continues to rise as he has cemented himself as one of the top two-ways in the province.

Braedyn Vogstad | 2025 | OF/RHP | Parkland Twins | Uncommitted

The uncommitted senior is a name colleges should be on right now. The athletic, 7.1 runner has a 93 mph arm from the OF and can make an impact on either side of the ball. There’s twitch and bat speed in his right handed swing and in 92 plate appearances this year from the leadoff spot, he’s slashing .333/.500/.507 with 9 extra base hits and 16 stolen bases; having only been caught 3 times. On the mound, he comfortably sits in the mid 80s with the fastball, having been into the upper 80s, and has struck out 40 in 31.2 IP. He can spin the breaking ball north of 2500 rpm which means there’s plenty of upside with that pitch. He’s one of the better defensive center fielders in the league, tracking the ball well and utilizing his strong arm to keep runners from taking extra bases when possible. At 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, Vogstad is a player that can make an impact at the next level.