June 15, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

Brooks, AB - WCBL history was made Saturday night as the Brooks Bombers won their first-ever game against the Okotoks Dawgs, defeating them 13-11.

Okotoks (10-4) dropped their first decision to Brooks (4-11) in 22 meetings.

The teams combined for 27 hits (14-13 Brooks) and struggled defensively with 14 errors (9-5 Brooks).

Okotoks found themselves trailing for the first time in three games when the Bombers slapped two consecutive RBI singles early in the game. But three Dawgs batters worked 0-2 counts in the second inning and loaded the bases with one out - in a collective effort to take their first lead of the game.

Shortstop Richard Mascarenas grounded an RBI infield-single after two straight walks setting up Bellevue University product Kory Longaker, who slapped a two-run RBI single in his Dawgs’ debut.

The Bombers, however, responded with a four-run second inning on a sacrifice fly that tied the game before Brooks' top gun McCoy Pierce belted a three-run home run to give Brooks an early 6-3 lead.

Down 7-3, Okotoks’ infielder Will Hollis hit a solo home run for his league-leading sixth homer before a string of hits set up catcher Jordan Mambaje to bring in a run and cut the deficit at 7-5. The Dawgs, continued their push in the next few at-bats. Jaxon Valcke caught the defence napping and crossed home-plate on a dropped-third-strike before a perfect bunt-single tied the match from Richard Mascarenas drove in Mambaje.

Four errors in the bottom of the fifth inning helped the Bombers retake the lead on an overthrown ball from the mound and a wild pitch.

Okotoks, however, refused to go down without a fight. The Dawgs responded with a three-run inning, scoring on an overthrown groundball before Tristan Peters brought two more runs in to push the score to 12-10.

Brooks scored an insurance run on a ground ball that skipped down the line in the bottom of the eighth.

Okotoks pressed in the final inning but only brought one run in on a fielders-choice from Longaker.

The Dawgs travel back to close the series at Seaman Stadium for the annual Father's Day matchup on Sunday with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m.