Dawgs advance to WCBL West Division Finals with win over Bulls

The Okotoks Dawgs advanced to the Western Canadian Baseball League’s West Division Finals with a 4-3, extra-inning win over the Lethbridge Bulls at Seaman Stadium on Friday night. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs

August 9, 2024

By Oakley Matthewson

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs have moved on to the Western Canadian Baseball League’s West Division Finals after a walk-off, 4-3, 13-inning win over the Lethbridge Bulls in front of 4,231 fans at Seaman Stadium on Friday night.

The Dawgs will now take on the Sylvan Lake Gulls in a best-of-three series to determine the West Division champion.

Ricky Sanchez (Lamar University) secured the win for the Dawgs with a walk-off RBI bunt which brought in Dawgs’ pinch-runner Leo Griffin (Okotoks, Alta.) in the bottom of the 13th inning.

Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.) was also a key offensive contributor, going 2-for-5 with a two-run single in the first which gave the Dawgs an early lead.

Connor Crowson (Okotoks, Alta.) and Brendan Luther (Mississauga, Ont.) added three and two hits respectively for the Dawgs.

On the mound, Brock Townsend (Bellevue University) started and allowed just two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Closer Ashton Luera (Oklahoma Wesleyan University) was a star out of the bullpen for the Dawgs, striking out nine in 5 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

The Dawgs will now head on the road to face the Gulls in Game 1 of the West Division Finals on Sunday. The Dawgs will return to Seaman Stadium for Game 2 on Monday.