July 27, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs clinched the Western Division title with a 10-2 win over the Lethbridge Bulls on Saturday night. The victory also represented their 36th win of the season, which set a new club record..

The Dawgs (36-10) scored in each of the first four innings while the Bulls could not generate any offence on Dawgs starter Billy Brand until the fifth inning.

Southeastern Community catcher Gavin Logan, UBC product Jaxon Valcke and University of Nebraska Husker infielder Shay Schanaman had two RBIs each for the Dawgs in the win.

Early RBIs from catcher Logan, Schanaman and Thompson Rivers second baseman Liam Rihela gave the Dawgs a 3-0 lead heading into the third inning.

The Dawgs were able to keep the Bulls off the scoreboard in the third when, with two runners on base, Okanagan College senior Davis Todosichuk robbed WCBL RBI leader Kaleb Warden with a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch running towards the warning track.

That set the stage for lead-off man Valcke in the bottom of the third who would club his fourth home run of the year to push the score to 4-0. Oregon State prospect Jacob Melton added an RBI single later in the frame to push the Okotoks lead to five.

The Dawgs added another two runs during the fourth inning on RBI singles by Bellevue University first baseman Riley Baasch and catcher Logan.

Point University hurler Brand started and threw five solid innings for the Dawgs, holding the Bulls to five hits and two runs to improve his record to 4-0 on the season.

The Bulls’ two runs came on a two-run homer from Warden in the fifth inning.

The Dawgs responded with a run on a fielder's choice from Valcke in the sixth before Tiffin University catcher Noah Penney and Schanaman registered RBI singles in the eighth to give the Dawgs a 10-2 lead.

Also of note, Dawgs Academy 18U Black and future Oregon State product Micah McDowell registered his first hit for the senior team during his pinch-hit appearance in the eighth.

The Dawgs will travel south to face the Bulls Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m.