From the Nest #005

Published April 1st, 2025

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Introducing the 2025 Sylvan Lake Gulls Leadership Dream Team!

Written by Gulls Co-Owner and Co-Founder Jennifer Schetszle

This dedicated group of individuals works tirelessly year-round to ensure strong strategic decision-making and goal setting for the organization. Each member brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table, contributing to the overall success and growth of the Sylvan Lake Gulls. The Leadership Team began with the President and Chief Operations Officer, Aqil Samuel. Aqil is a resilient and effective leader who has made a significant commitment to this  organization, shown by his relocation to Alberta in 2019. His ability to build strong relationships with fans, sponsors, and staff is second to none.  He is at the helm of this organization and sets the tone.  His strategic perspective and management have allowed the Gulls to flourish though our building years. Karlin Harrington’s journey from initially being hired to manage a few social media posts, to evolving into the Director of Brand Development and Social Media, is a testament to her talent, dedication, and the positive impact she has had on this organization. As the creative mastermind behind the Gulls brand presence, her contributions are invaluable.  Karlin’s work enhances the team’s marketability and builds the organizations visual presence throughout Alberta and beyond. The appointment of Jason Chatwood as the Head Coach of the Sylvan Lake Gulls in July 2020 was a significant moment for the organization. His local roots in Innisfail, Alberta, and his background as a division one athlete bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. Jason role goes beyond constructing a roster and coaching; it encompasses building a sense of community and instilling values and a strong team culture within the Sylvan Lake Gulls. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the organization and the players he mentors and inspires. Shawna James is an incredible asset to the organization! Her versatility and dedication to taking on various roles and responsibilities, including serving as the CFO, overseeing Human Resources, and managing contracts, make her a true all-around team player. Her work ethic and commitment to ensuring that tasks are completed are truly commendable.  By taking on multiple roles, Shawna sets an example for her colleagues and shows leadership through her actions. Nicole Ball’s impact on the Sylvan Lake Gulls organization since joining in 2020 has left a lasting mark on the team. Her role as the Food and Beverage Manager and her ability to handle a critical aspect of game-day operations makes her an integral part of the organization.  Nicole demonstrates tenacity and a strong ability and willingness to get the job done, even when adversity strikes. Marissa Stryker is the most recent addition to a full time roll with the Gulls organization, joining us online in the off season from Spain and returning to the stadium in May to round off our event and community relations department. Marissa brings many different attributes to the team, including her magnetic personality, loved by all. Marissa is a mover and a shaker and doesn’t miss a deadline. Our leadership team mentors our additional support staff throughout Gulls stadium. They hold a high standard of excellence and see to it that each department achieves to its peak potential each game night. Together, this dream team collaborates to set goals, make strategic decisions, and navigate the ever-changing landscape of sports management. Their collective effort ensures that the Sylvan Lake Gulls remain a competitive and beloved organization both on and off the field.

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Baseball has been around for well over a century and along the way it has developed a language all its own. But where did these quirky expressions come from? Let’s take a look at some classic baseball slang and how it found its way into the game!

“Can of Corn” – An Easy Catch
You might hear an announcer at Gulls Field call a routine fly ball a “can of corn,” but don’t go looking for it at the concession stand. This phrase comes from old general stores where shopkeepers would use a hook to pull canned goods from high shelves, letting them drop safely into their hands- just like an outfielder settling under a lazy pop-up (or a foam finger coming down from the suites during the Air Drop!)

“Texas Leaguer” – A Softly Hit Single
A “Texas Leaguer” refers to a bloop hit that falls between infielders and outfielders, often frustrating pitchers. The term originates from the early 1900s when a group of Texas-based minor league players (the “Texas League”) became known for their knack for hitting these just-out-of-reach singles.

“Duck Snort” – A Soft Hit That Falls In
Similar to a Texas Leaguer, a “duck snort” is a weakly hit ball that somehow lands in the perfect spot for a hit. White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson made this one famous, saying the ball barely makes a sound- kind of like a duck skimming across the water. Maybe we should adapt this to a “Gulls Snort”? Though Sully isn’t exactly known for skimming gracefully…

“Catbird Seat” – A Desirable Position
Popularized by famous baseball commentator Red Barber in the 1940s- its used to describe a favourable or enviable position. It was featured in the 1942 short story “The Catbird Seat” by James Thurber. The expression, according to Thurber, comes from the observation of the catbird and it’s secluded perch on which the Australian bird makes mocking calls.

“Seeing-Eye Single” – A Ball That Finds a Hole
When a ground ball sneaks through the infield like it has its own GPS, it’s called a “seeing-eye single.” It’s the kind of hit that makes a shortstop shake his head and a batter grin all the way to first base.

“Bush League” – Unpolished Play
If someone’s playing dirty or making rookie mistakes, they might get called “bush league.” The term comes from the old days of baseball, when low-budget teams played in small towns- often in fields surrounded by bushes. Around here, we prefer to keep things professional… but if an opponent starts pulling some of these ‘bush league’ moves, don’t be surprised if Sully gives them the ol’ stink eye from the stands.

“Ducks on the Pond” – Runners on Base
When the bases are full of Gulls players waiting to score, that’s called having “ducks on the pond” or better yet, “Gulls on the Lake!”

“Uncle Charlie” – A Curveball
A well-thrown curveball is often called an “Uncle Charlie.” While its exact origins are unclear, the term became popular in the mid-1900s and was likely coined by an old-time broadcaster who decided a slow, looping curve deserved a more playful nickname.

“Yakker” – Another Bird Reference!
Around 1979, Red Sox pitcher Dennis Eckersley called a pitched ball that doesn’t follow a straight path a ‘“Yakker”- said to derive from “Yawker”, another name for the Northern Flicker bird, whose flight path is similarly deceptive. You need a good “hose” (a pitcher’s arm) to be able to pitch a yakker!

“Frozen Rope” – A Hard Line Drive
A “frozen rope” describes a ball hit on a straight, hard line with no arc- so fast it looks like a rope stretched tightly across the field. It’s the kind of hit that leaves fielders with little time to react but will easily have the crowd up on their feet!

Baseball lingo gives the game its personality and no matter if you’re a die-hard fan or just coming for the sunshine and nachos, you’re bound to hear some of these classic expressions at Gulls Field this summer. So next time you’re in the stands and hear someone yell about ‘ducks on the pond’ or a ‘can of corn’, you’ll know exactly what’s going on! And maybe even impress your seatmates with the history behind the slang.

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Our Mascot Sully the Gully went to the Rebels game with his buddy Reese for the special Family Day game on February 17th. While Sully was helping Woolly Bully entertain the crowd, Reese was handing our schedule postcards! We love seeing all the Rebels fans fill our stands in the Speaking of Baseball Lingo… The Gulls’ annual Hot Stove is next week! But what exactly does “Hot Stove” mean..?

The term originally comes from baseball’s off-season, when fans would gather around a hot stove in the winter to talk baseball, speculate about trades, and discuss the upcoming season. It has since become a common phrase for baseball conversations, especially during the off-season, when teams make roster moves and prepare for the year ahead.

It’s too bad that we can’t invite the entire Gulls fanbase in person… but virtually, we can! Tune in to the Hot Stove livestream once again this year where we’ll bring you an exclusive preview of the upcoming Gulls season. The Q&A panel will feature Club President Aqil Samuel, Head Coach and General Manager Jason Chatwood, and Executive Director of the Gulls Give Foundation, Keri Lee. We’re also excited to introduce former Gulls player, Ben Prediger, who will be stepping into a new role as Assistant Coach for our 19U Gulls Prep Team.

Don’t miss out on this chance to hear directly from the team as we dive into plans for the season ahead, special events, and what’s new for 2025. The livestream will air on APRIL 8 at 7:00 PM, so be sure to tune in and get ready for a great season ahead!

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Looking for a way to support the Gulls Give Foundation and get your company’s name out there? Join us as a sponsor for the fourth annual Birdie Bash Golf Tournament on Monday, July 21st! We have a variety of sponsorship packages available designed to give your brand lots of exposure while supporting a great cause. Reach out to Aqil for more details on how you can get involved!     aqil@sylvanlakegulls.com

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2025 Bonus Games!

The Gulls are happy to announce that we have added 3 “extra home games” to our home schedule this season. On the schedule page of our website, you will see that we have added the following:

• June 3rd vs Energy City Cactus Rats
• June 12th vs Energy City Cactus Rats
• June 14th vs Brooks Bombers

The two Energy City (formerly Edmonton Prospects) games are due to the fact their new stadium in Spruce Grove won’t quite be ready.  As we went through building a stadium we totally understand, and are happy to provide these home games to our neighbours from the north.  If you get a chance check out their social media, the stadium is going to be a nice one!

The June 14th Brooks Bombers game will be played due to a scheduling conflict at their stadium.  Again, we are happy to accommodate Brooks for a Saturday night.

Tickets will be discounted for these games, and a great opportunity to catch some extra WCBL action. Season ticket holders and Alair Homes Executive Suite owners: these games are not included in your season ticket package. We have put away your seats and you will get first right of refusal on them. Our budgets and prices for season tickets are based on a 28 game schedule. We will be sending your “Offers” to purchase your seats for these games at a VIP discounted rate. We will send out some correspondence on this shortly.

We are really excited for this season to start, and I hope to see you at the ballpark!

Aqil Samuel

President and COO

Sylvan Lake Gulls

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19U Prep Schedule Release

The inaugural season of the Gulls 19U Prep team is officially underway!

Catch the next generation of talent in action as they hit the field this spring, representing the Gulls with pride. Check out the full schedule below and come cheer them on!

Get the latest as a Gulls Summer Send-Off Insider!