Dawgs defeat Red Sox in WCBL Finals opener
Photo: Okotoks Dawgs/Twitter
August 15, 2019
By Dan Khavkin
Okotoks Dawgs
The Okotoks Dawgs showed no signs of fatigue after an eight-hour bus ride to Currie Field in Regina, as they defeated the hometown Red Sox 7-2 in the opening game of the Western Canadian Baseball League final.
Regis Ranger prospect Nolan Ruff tossed a complete game for the Dawgs, surrendering just two runs on seven hits while striking out five.
The Dawgs opened the scoring in the first inning when catcher Gavin Logan’s single plated Tristan Peters.
After a scoreless second inning, the Dawgs added three runs in the third to take an early 4-0 lead. Following a walk to Davis Todosichuk and a single by Jacob Melton to open the frame, Logan knocked in Todosichuk on a fielder’s choice that allowed Melton to advance to third. Indiana State product Dane Tofteland then cashed in Melton on another fielder’s choice to make the score 3-0. Texas State DH Will Hollis followed that up by smoking a two-out RBI double to score Tofteland.
With the Dawgs up 4-0, the Red Sox responded in the bottom of the third by loading the bases with nobody out. Ruff then got a ground ball and a strike out before right fielder Ryan Eastburn singled to get the Red Sox on the board.
The Dawgs maintained a 4-1 lead until the eighth inning when Hollis singled and Richardo Sanchez walked to open the frame before J.T Patterson bunted and Red Sox third baseman Samuel De La Cruz threw the ball away, allowing both Dawgs runners to score. Peters then capped off the inning with his second RBI single of the game to make the score 7-1.
The Red Sox scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but they were kept off the scoreboard by Ruff in the ninth to close out a 7-2 Dawgs’ win.
The teams will travel back to Seaman Stadium for the second game of the series, which is set for Friday at 7:05 p.m.