Welcome to the Dawg House: Caleb Lumbard

Regina-born and raised catcher Caleb Lumbard is no stranger to Okotoks Dawgs fans as he is currently in his fourth season with the team.

Lumbard first joined the team back in 2021 playing with current Dawgs Nash Crowell and Tucker Zdunich with the Okotoks Dawgs Red squad. His career in the WCBL started before joining the Dawgs though with his first taste of summer league baseball when the league was still called the WMBL. Lumbard made his debut in 2018 with the Regina Red Sox and played one more season with them before going to Okotoks back in 2019.

Caleb Lumbard getting on to first base after hitting a single.

He explains that baseball wasn't his first passion as a youth.

"I was actually always a hockey guy growing up, I played baseball for the two months of summer that we have. My dad was a big hockey goalie, so I followed in his footsteps and was a goalie. I actually quit baseball in high school to focus on hockey, ended up picking baseball back up and it went well. I committed to it in grade 12 and got lucky enough to play college ball in Arizona. I don't know, just my dad always loved baseball, he didn't play baseball as a kid but he always loved baseball. We would watch baseball, he played men's league, baseball just has always had my heart," Lumbard said.

"It's not even that (his love for baseball) faded, I just felt a pressure to play hockey, like being a Canadian and it's a bigger sport here. I wasn't happy doing it, I finally had the courage to say 'no', and play baseball. The love of the game has taken me to where I am now."

Caleb Lumbard catching a pitch with dust coming off his glove.

Just like Logan Grant of the Dawgs, Lumbard feels that playing as a goalie in hockey translates to playing catcher in baseball.

"It does instinctually I feel like. The instinct to put your body in front of the object, the ball, or the puck is the same. The movements and technique are very different, I remember going from goalie to catcher, I would go into the butterfly to block the ball instead of blocking it the way you was supposed to. I always had the instinct to block the ball, probably didn't look pretty but, I could keep the ball in front," he said.

"It definitely helps me as a catcher from the instinctual aspect of it."

Caleb Lumbard swinging at an incoming pitch.

Lumbard did try other positions in baseball growing up but fell in love with catching as he was always a part of the play with every pitch. He mentioned as well that he had a conversation with Grant about how being a designated hitter isn't their first choice because a bad day at bat can weigh heavily on a player, whereas being at catcher ensures involvement in every play and a bad at-bat becomes less of a distraction.

"I think that's why some catchers don't hit as well because there is more mental focus on the defensive side of it and it is exhausting. But, I love that about catching because I don't have to worry about my bats quite as much," Lumbard added.

He also mentioned that a leadership role comes with the territory.

"As a catcher, I have taken responsibility upon myself if my pitcher isn't doing well, I look for a way to find what I can do to make him perform better. Like, 'What did I do that maybe affected how he pitched?' I like to make it not all on the pitcher, as much as the stats show it's on the pitcher, it's a team effort," he said.

Caleb Lumbard looking to smack the ball after coming out to his walkout song Desperado by Rihanna.

If you were to stand in the bullpen while the pitches are warming up, Lumbard's care for his team would soon become evident, he's always the first one to pick up his team's spirits when they need it.

"Growing up and stuff my teachers would say 'Caleb is a leader in the classroom'. I have always taken that responsibility, I don't know if it's because I care about people so much. I feel good when I'm helping other people out and making a difference to other people. Whatever that may be, I do like taking leadership roles, but it's not something I seek out. It's just something that comes to me," Lumbard explained.

Lumbard has been thinking about becoming a pitching coach once his days on the field are over. Given that he's finding himself naturally gravitating toward a leadership role on the team, it's a position that would fit him perfectly as he moves forward in his baseball career.

"I can see when guy's curveballs aren't breaking as much or they are messing up, I can see why that's happening, they are too far back or they get out front, or even just mental things. If a guy is not throwing strikes it's not because he has something wrong with his mechanics, it's something wrong with his mindset. So, I can say 'Don't worry about my glove it could be too small of a target, just blow it through my chest'. That seems to loosen guys up. Just little verbal cues for guys is something I learned and can use with coaching," he said.

Caleb Lumbard catching an incoming pitch.

Lumbard fell in love with Okotoks right away after playing two years in his hometown of Regina for the Red Sox.

"I always came to Okotoks and be like 'What is this place, is this baseball heaven, is this pro baseball?' We get to feel like pros even though we are just college kids for two months. It's an experience of a lifetime. Nothing against Regina, it's just this opportunity came in the summer of COVID, so there were no Saskatchewan teams playing. I got my foot in the door here and was lucky enough to get the invite back in 2022 and have been here ever since. Nothing against Regina, but the experience here can't be beat."

Playing in Okotoks can be shocking for new players like Jarrett Burney, Barry Eiseman, and Kadyn Williams due to the vast number of people who attend each game. Lumbard told them to just soak it all in.

"I like to just tell them to take it in. If it's really bugging you, stop for a second between innings and just look around, look the field. Just be happy you are here, just be happy to have this opportunity. People are paying to watch you play baseball, it's not something you have to put pressure on yourself for, everyone is rooting for you. Just take it in, and look where you are at. Enjoy and have fun," he explained.

Caleb Lumbard waiting for the pitcher to choose his pitch before throwing the ball.

One thing Lumbard has not taken for granted is winning back-to-back WCBL championships. It's something that he will cherish forever and feels blessed to be a part of it all.

"It doesn't matter what league or sport you are playing in, winning a championship is always special. You have to think about all the teams and players who didn't get to win. There is one winner and 30 guys on 10 other teams that don't get to win. You have to keep in mind that, yeah, you earned it but it's a lucky experience, and not a lot of people get to do that either. I'm so grateful for the winning culture that we have here. It's unbelievable. Hopefully, we can do it again," Lumbard added.

He's made some lifelong friends being on the team and expects that many of them will invite him to their wedding when the day comes, and he'll be sure to have them on his guestlist too.

Lumbard left with this message to the fans and residents of Okotoks:

"Just pure gratitude, it's cool just walking around and if you are wearing a Dawgs jersey you get people flagging you down on the streets to say hi and introduce themselves. The steady attendance that we get here, we are just college baseball players, we're not professionals yet. Some of us will be, but the ongoing support we get, I can't express enough gratitude to Okotoks and the surrounding area," Lumbard said.

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10 Questions with Caleb Lumbard

How many ballpark hot dogs could you eat in one sitting?

"Six."

What is your guilty pleasure song?

"Exes by Tate McRae."

What is your favourite movie and/or TV show?

"Favourite movie is probably Step Brothers, TV show is The Office."

What were your favourite baseball team and player growing up?

"Toronto Blue Jays, and Adam Lind. He was a lefty and a power hitter."

If I could grant you one wish, what would you wish for?

"To play for the Blue Jays tomorrow, as catcher."

If you could meet one person on this planet who would it be?

"Probably Willie Mays, chat about baseball, chat about his approach. Just talk to the guy, he's a legend."

Favourite sport other than baseball?

"Football probably."

What household chores do you hate the most?

"Washing dishes, I hate dishes definitely. Just washing a pan and scrubbing a pan, I just hate it."

Would you rather live in a city full of people or in the mountains with no one in sight?

"Mountains with no one in sight."

Is it called a hoody or a bunny hug?

"I got to stay true to my Sask roots, a bunny hug. I was just having this conversation with my girlfriend and her family. They have never heard of it, and no one seemingly outside of Saskatchewan has ever heard of it. I don't know why it is a bunny hug. I just remember being in like fourth grade and my teacher would say 'Go grab your bunny hugs' and we would just grab our bunny hugs. I don't know the origin behind it."