SAN ANTONIO (June 16, 2024) – Donovan Gamez and Jack Kalisky - members of the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) baseball team – are playing summer ball for the Lethbridge Bulls Baseball Club, which is part of the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL). The team is located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Kalisky is returning for his second season, while Gamez was signed earlier this year.

The summer 2024 season began in late May and will conclude on Aug. 5. The postseason takes place from Aug. 7 to 17.

The Bulls play in Spitz Stadium, which underwent $2.3 million in renovations in 2018. A year later, the then-Western Major Baseball League rebranded itself and is now called the WCBL. Lethbridge has had much success throughout its 25-year history, which it is celebrating this year. In 2021, the team won the league title.

Kalisky discovered the team from former OLLU players, and Head Coach Matt Piker helped him by sending information and stats to the coaches of Lethbridge. "I was trying to find a place to play for the summer and this opportunity came up. I felt it would be a fun thing to go do it. It has been a great experience playing here; there is great competition all over the league. I have also met some really cool people on my team and created some really good friendships with them."

Knowing that Kalisky was from OLLU, the team reached out to Gamez in the middle of the spring about him going up there to throw for the summer. "This is my first year up here in Canada. It has been a bunch of fun pitching in front of all these fans and just being in this type of environment."

Gamez and Kalisky stay with a host family in Lethbridge. "I stay in a house with a host family – some of the nicest and most welcoming people – and it has been a great place to live during the summer. It has been better with Donovan here because we actually live in the same home. It's nice to have a friend and teammate from back home."

Other members of the WCBL in the West Division with Lethbridge are the Brooks (Alberta) Bombers, Edmonton (Sherwood Park, Alberta) Prospects, Fort McMurray (Alberta) Giants, Sylvan Lake (Alberta) Gulls and Okotoks (Alberta) Dawgs; in the East Division are the Regina (Saskatchewan) Red Sox, Medicine Hat (Alberta) Mavericks, Moose Jaw Miller (Saskatchewan) Express, Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) Berries, Weyburn (Saskatchewan) Beavers and Swift Current 57's. The Regina Red Sox won the East Division in 2023, while the Okotoks Dawgs won the West, with Lethbridge placing third with a 33-27 overall record.

In his first season with the Bulls, Kalisky batted .266 in 35 games, 139 at-bats, 23 runs, 37 hits, eight doubles, three home runs, 16 RBIs, 15 walks and four stolen bases. So far this season, Kalisky, in 15 games played, is hitting .281 with 12 runs, 18 hits, six doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and four walks. He has pitched in relief in six games in 9.1 innings, with two saves and eight strikeouts. The team is 10-9 as of June 16.

Gamez has pitched in three games this year as a starter in 11 innings with eight strikeouts. He has an ERA of 0.81. Back home in his two seasons as a starter for the Saints, he pitched six games and is 3-1 with one save. He's pitched in 35.2 innings and struck out 39 for an ERA of 3.03 and a WHIP of 1.49.

"I've only been here for a couple of weeks, but my favorite memory so far is probably just meeting new people and getting to explore all around Canada. My family visited, but they mostly watch our games on TV," Gamez said.

Kalisky also completed his second season with the Saints as a pitcher and utility player. He has played in 100 games, adding 85 runs, 120 hits, 21 doubles, eight triples, 20 home runs, 115 RBIs and 52 walks. He has stolen 13 bases and is batting .346 with an OBP of .443 and SLG of .625. He has three saves in 41.1 innings pitched and 55 strikeouts. His ERA is 5.66, and his WHIP is 1.43.

"My favorite memory here in Canada so far is hitting my first WCBL home run! I would like to come back each summer, but that all depends on what is going on with my life at the time."

Allen Kalisky, whose other son, Connor Kalisky, is an OLLU alumnus, also played in Canada during the past summers. Connor was part of the Saints' inaugural team in 2015 and played through the 2017 season. After graduating from OLLU, he received his Doctorate of Pharmacy. Allen said, "My wife took him [Connor] up there last year and this year. She picked up Donovan's family at the airport on one of the team's road trips. I enjoy watching Jack play on a streaming service, but I was able to go up there for about a week last year. I will return in early July."

Go here for the team's full schedule and links to watch the games live.