Dawgs' Funderburk does deep again

Kody Funderburk (above) walloped two home runs and had five RBI for the Okotoks Dawgs on Friday. Photo Credit: Amanda Fewer

Saturday July 8, 2017

Dawgs make it two in a row

By Hunter Julius

BROOKS, AB – The Okotoks Dawgs (19-10) made it two wins in a row after a 22-2 win over the Brooks Bombers (9-19) on Friday.

It didn’t take long for the Dawgs to jump out on top, as the first inning saw its fair share of explosive hitting. Jayse McLean (North Dakota State University) sent a triple out to right field with one out before Matt Lloyd (University of Indiana) walked to put runners on first and third. A monstrous home run to right field from Kody Funderburk (Dallas Baptist University) broke open the scoring to make it 3-0.

Continuing the explosive inning, Cameron Campbell (University of Oregon) got hold of a pitch for a double and eventually scored on a double hit by Aderly Perez (University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff) to give the Dawgs a 5-0 edge.

Brooks was able to put up two runs in the second inning, but that was the last time they saw home plate, as the Dawgs got back to work in the fourth with Ryan Humeniuk (Indian Hills CC) getting hit by a pitch and stealing second to set up an RBI double from McLean to put Okotoks up 5-2.

It took a couple innings, but the Dawgs got back to work in the seventh, starting with back-to-back singles by McLean and Lloyd to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Brendan Rose (University of British Columbia) slapped a single through the gap to right field to load the bases before Perez sent a bullet to center field for a two-out bases clearing double. John Hawk (Iowa Western CC) finished off the scoring with a double to score Perez and make it 9-2.

The eighth inning saw more flair from the Dawgs as Lloyd singled with two out to set the stage for Funderburk’s second home run of the game to make it 11-2. In two games against Brooks this year, Funderburk has hit two home runs in each game.

Not wanting to let their bats go cold, 11 runs came across to score in the top of the ninth to give the Dawgs their 22-2 win.

Picking up his second win of the year with Okotoks, Graham Brunner (Dawgs Academy) went five full innings, giving up three hits, two runs, one walk and striking out four. Zach Demchenko (Northeastern Junior College), Omar Celaya (Nyack College), Brennen Lauffenburger (Linn Benton CC) and Liam Stroud (University of British Columbia) came in to shut down the Bombers offense.

Okotoks comes back to Seaman Stadium to take on the Edmonton Prospects for a two game home stand on Saturday and Sunday.

Players to Note:

J.Mclean – 5-7, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI

M.Lloyd – 3-5, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R

K.Funderburk – 3-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI

B.Rose- 3-6, 2 RBI

A.Perez- 3-6, 3 2B, 4 RBI

Of Record:

W: Graham Brunner (2-0)

L: Juan Carreon (2-3)