June 12, 2018

57’s swat four home runs in Dawgs road win

By Tyler Lowey

Okotoks Dawgs

Swift Current, SK — The Okotoks Dawgs built up a big lead early and held onto the 9-7 victory in their first trip to Saskatchewan, as they edged out the Swift Current 57’s Tuesday night at Mitchell Field.

The Dawgs extended their winning streak to five straight with the win over the two-time defending Western Major Baseball League champions.

Carter Robinson (Mesa Community College) was cruising along into the bottom of the sixth until he ran into the WMBL home run leader, Bo McClintock. With two out, McClintock belted his sixth homer of the season.

That was the only blip on Robinson’s night, as he went seven complete, held the 57’s to four hits, one earned run and struck out 10 batters. His 10 strikeouts tied him with teammates Cody Ebert (Columbia College) and Brock Townsend (Linn-Benton Community College) for the most in a start this season.

It was a bumpy outing for Tom Steier of the 57’s (3-8). Making his first start in his second outing of the season, he gave up seven runs, four earned runs and struck out seven in 5. 1/3 innings.

The Dawgs (7-2) got to Steier early when new leadoff man Richard Mascarenas (Linn-Benton Community College) singled to leadoff the top of the first and came around to score on a Will Hollis (Cisico Community College) two-out single up the middle.

Ryan Humeniuk (Indian Hills Community College) led off the second with a walk, stole second and advanced on a throwing error to Ethan Hunter. Two batters later, Humeniuk sneakily stole home when Brandon Sparks (Bellevue University) took off for second base.

The 57’s handed the Dawgs a pair of runs in the fourth following a leadoff double by Humeniuk. A wide pickoff attempt on Marcus Skundrich (Mesa Community College) allowed Humeniuk to score. A few pitches later, Skundrich scooted home on a passed ball to make it 5-0.

Dawgs Academy product Danny Donnelly connected on his first home run of the season in the top of the sixth. It was a two-run job after Skundrich led off the inning with a hit by a pitch.

The combination of Nate DeChaine (Morningside College) and Will Hollis (Cisico Community College) was effective, as DeChaine picked up a pair of doubles and one walk in four trips to the plate and Hollis picked up a pair of RBI in five at bats.

Robinson’s replacement, Alex Jones (Niagara University), got touched up in the bottom of the eighth. He allowed a three-run blast to McClintock and a solo shot to Jered Binsfield, to make it 9-6.

Craig Smith (Columbia College) came on with two outs in the eighth end the threat.

The 57’s wouldn’t go quietly in the ninth, as Bryan Benz connected on his third home run of the season to make it 9-7.

But Smith regrouped and got McClintock to fly out to end the game and pick up his third save.