Dawgs and WCBL set to return to action June 18
The Okotoks Dawgs and the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) are preparing to return to action on June 18. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs
May 27, 2021
Official Okotoks Dawgs News Release
With the recent announcement from Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney, the Okotoks Dawgs are excited to announce their return to play in the 2021 season of the Western Canadian Baseball League, Canada’s premier summer collegiate league, commencing on Friday, June 18th.
With the province’s 3-Stage Plan for reopening, the Dawgs could welcome full capacity crowds at Seaman Stadium as soon as early July.
Earlier this year, the WCBL announced plans to offer players and fans a modified WCBL season with participating teams including the Lethbridge Bulls, Sylvan Lake Gulls, Edmonton Prospects and Okotoks Dawgs; with the Dawgs fielding two teams, Dawgs Black and Dawgs Red. Due to border closures and quarantine requirements, all players in the 2021 season will be Canadian.
The home opener for the Dawgs Black squad will be 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 at Seaman Stadium against the rival Edmonton Prospects. The Dawgs Red will host the Lethbridge Bulls at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, June 20 also at Seaman Stadium.
The Dawgs with a youth academy widely considered the premier high school aged program in Canada and ranked 3rd in North America by US scouting service, Perfect Game, will base their two clubs on its premier Academy teams supplemented by standout Dawgs graduates returning from US colleges.
The Dawgs rosters will include current Academy players with scholarship commitments from such prestigious US college programs as the University of Tennessee, Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Washington State University, University of Washington and Stetson University in Florida.
The top returning players include LHP Graham Brunner (Illinois State University), LHP Matt Wilkinson (Central Arizona), RHPs Ethan Francis and Ryan Olchoway (Northwestern State University, Louisiana), RHP Brendan Logan, LHP Branden Woods and infielder Aidan Rose (UBC), OF Tucker Zdunich (Colby CC, Kansas), OF/LHP Noah Geekie (Emporia State, Kansas) and local product Kye Seitz (Bellevue, WA).
Dawgs fans will also see some familiar faces on the coaching staff this summer. Coaching guru, David Robb (Mesa, Ariz.) and pitching coach Joe Sergent (Florida Marlins org.) will be back in the dugout along with Academy coaches and former professional and WCBL standouts, Tyler Hollick (Chandler Gilbert, Ariz., SF Giants org.) and Jeff Duda (Lewis Clark State, ID, Quebec City, CAN-AM League). Val Helldobler (Tiffin, Ohio) and former WCBL All-star, Bretton Gouthro (Mt. Olive, N.C.), round out the coaching staff. While the Dawgs will miss head coach, Mitch Schmidt (Bellevue, Neb.), returning in 2022, Dawgs are awaiting word regarding a border exemption allowing the return of coach Andy Peterson (Oregon State, Seattle Mariners org.).
“Given the circumstances of the pandemic, we anticipated a unique 2021 season. But we are particularly excited and think fans will really enjoy the opportunity to see not only our returning Dawgs grads but the outstanding Academy players we are developing right here in Okotoks. We will be young but there will be a lot of talent on display and I am confident both Dawgs teams will be highly competitive”, said Academy head coach, Jeff Duda.