From behind the plate to the head of the pack.
Okotoks Outlaws catcher Matt Deibert took home the Baseball Alberta 18U AA Player of the Year award in recognition of his quiet leadership and five-tool skills on the diamond.
“I’ve never been picked or won any type of awards like this before,” said Deibert. “It was definitely a surprise when I was chosen for it and definitely a huge honour to go and get this award, there’s a lot of other players that deserved it.
“But I’m glad they picked me and I’m glad I got that opportunity with my teammates and my friends and my family.”
Deibert called his second season with the 18U AA Outlaws the best he’s experienced, tipping his cap to his coaching staff led by head coach Jeff Raknerud.
“We ended up coming short in the end, but overall, I had an amazing season,” he said. “I think it was my personal best season I’ve had as an individual.
“Lots of times when I was feeling down or our team was feeling down, our coaches did a great job of picking everyone up. Our one coach this year I’ve never had before, Todd Hall, he was an amazing addition to the team, he taught me a lot of stuff I didn’t know even after I’ve been playing the game so long.”
Congratulations to the 2024 18U Players of the Year! 👏
— Baseball Alberta (@BaseballAlberta) November 23, 2024
🌟 18U AAA: Michael Szpak (Fort McMurray Oil Giants)
🌟 18U AA: Matthew Deibert (Okotoks Outlaws)
🌟 18U A: Taylor Fankhanel (Bashaw Bandits)
Join us in celebrating Michael, Matthew, and Taylor!#BAAwards24 pic.twitter.com/SOu4L34nbS
Deibert hit leadoff, boasting a .520 batting average and .899 slugging percentage, and stole 41 bases while playing the most taxing position on the diamond.
His play caught the attention not only of Baseball Alberta, but the opposition.
“We were playing a team that ended up winning provincials (Webber Wildcats), their best pitcher was on the mound, and I had hit a triple off him the previous at bat,” he said. “When I was going around to hit again, he turned around and told his whole outfield to back up for me.
“That was cool to see the other team do that, they recognized I could do some damage against them. And I ended up hitting another triple off him that at bat.”
Deibert, a Foothills Composite graduate earlier this year, is in his freshman season with the Okanagan College Coyotes in Kelowna.
The Coyotes are three-time Canadian College Baseball Conference champions (2018, 2021, 2022).
“It’s been a great experience,” said Deibert, who’s studying general sciences. “With the weather, we still have no snow here and my team has been amazing, my coaches have been great.
“I’m really excited for the season to start.”
For more information, go to baseballalberta.com.
