Dawgs drop West Division Finals opener to Gulls

The Okotoks Dawgs lost 5-3 to the Sylvan Lake Gulls in their Western Canadian Baseball League West Division Finals opener on Sunday. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs

August 11, 2024

By Oakley Matthewson

Okotoks Dawgs

Sylvan Lake, Alta. - The Okotoks Dawgs lost 5-3 to the Sylvan Lake Gulls in Game 1 of the WCBL West Division Finals on Sunday in front of 1,644 fans at Gulls Stadium thanks to a walk-off home run by second baseman Marques Abulhosn.

With the loss, the Dawgs face a must-win in Game 2 in the best-of-three series against the Gulls at Seaman Stadium on Monday.

Lead-off hitter Brendan Luther (Mississauga, Ont.) led the way offensively for the Dawgs, going 3-for-5. Catcher Caleb Lumbard (Regina, Sask.) also chipped in with two hits, while Ricky Sanchez (Lamar University) went 1-for-1 with three walks and an RBI.

Centre fielder Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.) caught the Gulls off guard in the eighth when he stole home to tie the game 3-3.

On the mound, Blake Crippen (Bellevue University) started and tossed a scoreless first inning but allowed a run in each of the next three innings.

Ryan McFarland (Calgary, Alta.) relieved Crippen and tossed three innings.

Right-hander Greg Ross (Sarnia, Ont.) was saddled with the loss when he allowed the walk-off homer to Abulhosn in the ninth.