April 7, 2026

Colford Moves Into League Lead After Three Homerun Weekend, But Not Enough To Overcome PBA's Stong Offense

LETHBRIDGE, AB-You always want to leave a strong impression. That’s what the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks did this weekend as they tangled with the Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs in Lethbridge, Alberta. The Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference teams were forced to play four games in Southern Alberta due to inclement field conditions at RE/MAX Field in Edmonton. The Collegiate Hawks won the final game of the set Sunday (Apr 5) 4-1 over the Dawgs at Lloyd Nolan Park. This followed PBA winning the first three games of the series. The result leaves the Hawks at 6-6 after three weekends of play. PBA –who won the first game Sunday 12-1 has a record of 10-3. The Dawgs scored the Hawks 34-12 this weekend. Edmonton’s #55 Caeden Colford had a strong weekend at the plate. He left the weekend with a .361 batting average, 14 runs batted in 36 at bats with 13 hits, 11 runs scored and a league leading five homers. “Colford had a great weekend,” said Edmonton head coach Jake Lanferman. “ He is a power bat that can change the game with a single swing. He’s really been really consistent for us early on and it’s been a lot of fun to see him get an early lead on the CCBC home run derby with those five dingers.” The two teams will meet again once more this season: May 15th at RE/MAX Field. SERIES SUMMARY: Game 1-Saturday, April 4, 2026-PBA 12 Edmonton- 3 Lloyd Nolan Park The Dawgs took advantage of knowing their home park as they opened the series with 12 runs on nine hits. The Collegiate Hawks committed a season high five errors in the ball game. Offensively, #26 Deven Hagel was 3 for 4 with five runs batted in. He hit a three-run homer in a five run seventh inning for PBA. Edmonton was led by Colford who went 2 for 4 with three runs batted in. He also hit a homer in the seventh inning-the only one where the Collegiate Hawks scored. Starter #50 Lucas Webber-Kitching went 5 and two thirds’ innings garnering the loss. The righty from Calgary, surrendered six runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. He evens his season record at 1 and 1. PBA starter #17 River Hope went to 3 and 0 on the season earning the win. He tossed six and a third innings of seven hit ball, surrendering three hits, striking out seven and walking two. Game 2-Saturday, April 4, 2026- PBA 14 Edmonton 6-Lloyd Nolan Park For the second straight contest, PBA had double digit runs with 12 hits and a game high five errors. The Collegiate Hawks had six runs on nine hits. Colford led the way offensively for the Collegiate Hawks for the second straight game. He had two homers in the contest-one in the second inning and one in the fourth. He was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and 2 runs batted in. #18 Simon Virostek was 2 for 3 with a run scored. #34 Jace Daku was 1 for 4 at the dish with three runs batted in. The Dawgs scored five times in the bottom of the second and added three more in the third and never looked back. # 18 Declan Okane was 4 for 5 with two runs scored and four runs batted in including a home run in the fifth inning . # 34 Zach Williard was the winner. Willard is 2 and 0 on the year as he went five innings giving up six runs on six hits and striking out three while #25 Nick Backstrom was tagged with the loss. The resident of Sundre, Alberta went two and a third giving up eight runs on six hits, walking four and striking out two. Backstrom’s record fell to 0 and 2. Game 3-Sunday, April 5, 2026- PBA 12 Edmonton 1 Lloyd Nolan Park The Dawgs had 16 hits and one error in the game compared to the Collegiate Hawks14 hits and three errors. #5 Sam Honke was the starter and losing pitcher for Edmonton. He pitched four innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with three strike outs. He is now 0 and 2 on the season. # 44 Alex Fijal picked up the victory for PBA. He moved to 2 and 0 on the year pitching six innings, giving up seven hits, a walk and striking out nine. #13 Will Turner was 5 for 6 with four runs scored and two runs batted in. Okane was three for three with four runs batted in and two runs scored. #4 Nathan Webb was two for five with a run scored. The Hawks scored their lone run in the bottom of the ninth. Offensively, Virosek was 4 for 4. #24 Jake Roggensack was 1 for 3 with an RBI. #1 Koby Smith was 2 for 3. #23 Brayden Morris was 1 for 1 with a run scored. Game 4-Sunday, April 5, 2026-Edmonton 4 PBA 2 Lloyd Nolan Park Edmonton scored three times in the first and once in the second en route to the victory. Colford was 2 for 4 with a run batted in. # 29 Aldo Rojas Junior was 2 for 3 for the Hawks while #9 David Browning was 1 for 4 with a run scored. # 32 Logan Colville notched his first win of the CCBC season. The St Albert, Alberta righty went seven innings of four hit ball giving up a run. #12 Riley Starko of Vermillion, Alberta got his second save of the year pitching two innings, giving up two hits, one run, had a walk and a strikeout. #32 Sean Bavis was tagged with the loss for PBA. He is 2 and 1 on the year. Bavis went six innings, giving up four hits, struck out four and walked two. COMMENTS FROM COACH JAKE LANFERMAN: “PBA was great competition for us. Their pitchers threw strikes and their hitters punished our mistakes. We swung it (the bat) well and need to continue sticking to our approach as its been working for us offensively. We’re continuing to find the proper roles for pitchers as we challenged them to keep competiting with their fullest efforts.” NEXT UP FOR THE COLLEGIATE HAWKS: The Collegiate Hawks will be on the road next weekend. They will head down the QE II to meet up with the University of Calgary Dinos at Foothills Stadium. The teams play a doubleheader Saturday and Sunday (April 11th and 12th). Opening pitches on Saturday are 3 PM and 6 PM MDT. Sunday games start at 11 AM and 2 PM MDT. The Hawks should get their first official home game Friday April 17th at RE/MAX Field when the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack are in Edmonton for a four-game series which includes a doubleheader Saturday April 18th and a single game Sunday (April 19th) at 10 AM MDT. By Larry Read. Photo courtesy of Cindy Adachi