There is a growing mountain of accolades for Edmonton Riverhawks who had outstanding seasons in 2023.

After pitcher Halen Knoll gathered West Coast League Pitcher of the Year and 1st Team All Star honours, recognition quickly came in for six of his teammates.

Fellow pitcher Riley Barrett was also named to the 1st All Star Team. The freshman from Arizona State had a stellar year on the mound. While his official record was 0-3, he posted a sparkling 1.72 ERA over 57 innings of work.

"He's a strike thrower who knows how to pitch," says Riverhawks Pitching Coach Ray Brown. "His split finger is probably his best pitch, with his fastball and change-up not far behind. On our team, he is one of the guys that you would want to give the ball to in a big game situation."

Five other Hawks scooped up Honourable Mentions for All-WCL players, including:

• Tom Poole of Dallas Baptist University. The native of Calgary split his time between first and third bases and stepping up to the plate to hit a whopping .340. Over 29 games, he scored 20 runs, recorded 18 RBI's and hit two round trippers.
• Jonny McGill of UBC. The outfielder from Richmond hit a smashing .329 over 45 games. His bat was responsible for driving in 23 runs while he scored 24 himself.
• Dallin Harrison of San Diego University. The highlight of the season for the right hander from Gilbert, Arizona, was the first complete game shutout in Hawks history, when he tossed a 3 hitter in a 6-0 win over Cowlitz.
• Tommy Takayoshi of Fresno State. The fan favourite from Spanaway Washington, hit .291 over 42 games, including a home run.
• Matthew Ridsdale of University of Alberta. "Rids," originally from Brampton, Ontario, had impressive numbers in his debut season in the WCL, going 2-0, with a 1.68 ERA over 37 innings of work.

The honours highlight the strength of the sport in our nation, considering four of these players who earned honours in the prestigious West Coast League are Canadians.

It also speaks to the power for the Collegiate Hawks program, made up of athletes going to post secondary schools in Edmonton. Both Ridsdale and Knoll have pitched double duty, suiting up for both the Riverhawks and the Collegiate Hawks, and impressing others no matter what jersey they're wearing.