Dawgs drop series finale to Giants

Left-hander Graham Brunner (Okotoks, Alta.) started for the Dawgs on Sunday. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs (file photo)

July 14, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

Fort McMurray, Alta. – The Okotoks Dawgs dropped the rubber match of a three-game series to the Fort McMurray Giants 6-5 on Sunday afternoon.

The Dawgs again started strong, tallying three runs in the opening inning which brought their season total to 36 first-inning runs. A two-out, two-run RBI triple from University of Nebraska infielder Shay Schanaman gave the Dawgs an early 2-0 lead. Texas State infielder Will Hollis followed with a single to drive in the third run of the inning.

In the following frame, WCBL batting average leader and Chandler-Gilbert product Tristan Peters drove in the fourth Dawgs’ run of the game on a fielder’s choice.

Crowder Community College pitcher and Dawgs Academy alumni Graham Brunner started for the fourth time this season. Before the Giants’ five-run outburst in the fourth inning, Brunner had tossed three scoreless innings and had given up just one hit.

UBC relief pitcher Brendan Logan relieved Brunner in the fourth and got two fly outs to end the inning.

The Giants added their sixth and final run in the sixth inning after loading the bases on Logan and scoring a run on a fielder’s choice.

The Dawgs had a late-game push when they loaded the bases in the eighth-inning and cutting the deficit to 6-5 after scoring a run on a passed ball, but that would be as close as they would get.

The Dawgs now travel back home and have a day off on Monday before hosting the first two games of a three-game set with the Medicine Hat Mavericks starting on Tuesday.