Playing against the top academies south of the border, the Okotoks Dawgs finished second in its pool in Cartersville, Ga.

Okotoks, which lost in the Perfect Game High School Showdown-Academies final to Faith Baptist last March, only missed earning a playoff berth on run differential. The Dawgs were 3-1 in round-robin play and lost the wild card tie-breaker by allowing three runs too many. East Cobb Academy gained the spot. 

Besides going 3-1, Okotoks split two exhibition games to finish its trip with a 4-2 record.

The North Shore Twins, from North Vancouver went 2-2 in round-robin play, then won and tied an exhibition game to finish with a 3-2-1 record.

A good showing for the Dawgs and the Twins, who combined to play 12 games and lost only four before and during the 25-team tourney. The Dawgs only loss in pool play was to the eventual champion TNXL Academy Ducks of Orlando and they lost the exhibition game to North Shore. 

* * *
The Twins opened with a 6-1 loss to Next Level, allowing three runs in the first inning.

Lead-off man Alec Cumming (West Vancouver, BC) and No. 9 hitter Carson Ho (Burnaby, BC) each had a pair of hits for the Twins, while Brandon Hupe (Delta, BC) doubled. Dion Wintjes (Vancouver, BC) knocked in North Shore’s only run.  

Cortez D’Alessandro (Vancouver, BC) started and took the loss, allowing six runs -- five earned -- on six hits and one walk. He fanned six in five innings, as Dan Sereda (Vancouver, BC) pitched a scoreless inning.
 
After scoring five runs in the second, the Twins added five more in the fourth, as their lead dwindled to the smallest of margins, going on to a 10-4 roger, over-and-out decision over SBO Florida to even its record to 1-1.  

With one out, Yang worked a five-pitch walk, stole second, then Cumming and Steven Moretto (Burnaby, BC) reached on errors loading the bases. Ryan Lim (Vancouver, BC) was hit by pitch and Wintjes walked, each at-bat forcing in a run. Hupe hit a ground ball which was booted, then a wild pitch and another. Five runs on zero hits. 

The Twins didn’t receive a gift wrapping when they scored five times two innings earlier as Hupe walked to open the inning, Moore singled to left and Ho reached on an error loading the bases. Richmond followed with a two-run single to right, Lucas Yang (Vancouver, BC) walked and Cumming hit a two-run single to left and Moretto singled. 
   
Tim Walters (Roberts Creek, BC) worked three innings allowing four unearned runs on four hits and three walks, and fanned four. Kaczmarowski took over working the next three innings and allowing three hits and striking out a man. Then, Connor Alderman (West Vancouver, BC) had an 11-pitch scoreless seventh. 

Next, North Shore upped its record to 2-1 with an 8-1 win over the powerhouse East Cobb Eagles, scoring in every inning but one. 

Wintjes was 2-for-2, including a double and knocked in three runs, while Moretto and Finn Kaczmarowski (Vancouver, BC) each had a pair of hits. Hupe added a triple, while Cumming and Sereda each singled. Yang also drove in a run.  

RHP Thomas Hemer (Vancouver, BC) picked up the win throwing 4 2/3 innings allowing one hit and one walk. He fanned nine and threw 82 pitches (54 strikes). Taking over with a 5-1 lead, Jake Richmond (Gibsons, BC) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless fanning three.

The Twins fell 3-0 to the Christ School Greenies as Hunter Macomber pitched complete-game, 95-pitch no hitter, fanning eight and walking four.

Cole Dalla-Zanna (Burnaby, BC) started and pitched two scoreless innings fanning three, while Matthew Watson (Vancouver, BC) worked two innings and allowing two runs on two hits and three walks, while fanning four. Jayden Clayton (North Vancouver, BC) finished up allowing one run in two innings on three hits and a walk, as he fanned three.

That levelled the Twins record to 2-2.

* * *
The Dawgs fell behind early and couldn’t rally in a 3-1 loss to TNXL Academy Ducks of Orlando. The Ducks scored an unearned run in the first.  

Graham Brunner pitching four innings, surrendering two runs on five hits and four walks. Ethan Francis (Okotoks, Alta.) worked an scoreless inning as did Andrew Asselin (Winnipeg, Man.). Ben Tighe (Okotoks, Alta.) allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings on one hit and four walks. 

Daniel Donnelly (Okotoks, Alta.) knocked in the Dawgs lone run with a two-out bases loaded walk to score Tyler McWillie (Waltrous, Sask.). Mike Clapperton (Calgary, Alta.) and Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta.) each collected a for the Dawgs. 

Jacob Bouzide, William Undershute and Jack Marlin got the Dawgs off to a fast start in a 6-1 win over the The Kings Academy Knights on Nashville to even their record at 1-1.

Bouzide (Calgary, Alta.) led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on a Greg Student (Sexsmith, Alta.) single. Undershute (Okotoks, Alta.) pitched three innings giving up one run on two hits and four walks as he fanned seven in his 68-pitching outing (38 strikes). Marlin (Okotoks, Alta.) was outstanding then with four scoreless and hitless innings allowing one base runner (a walk) and throwing 51 pitches (31 strikes).  

Bouzide had three hits, while Student had two knocking in a pair. Shaun Atamanchuk (Beaumont, Alta.) and Clapperton each had a hit, while Jayden Wakeham (Victoria, BC), Nate Doleman (Courtenay, BC) and Valero all drove in a run.

LaRon Smith (Spruce Grove, Alta.) and Marlin each tripled as the Dawgs beat EMB Gold of Iowa 6-1. Smith also singled and knocked in a pair of runs and swiped a base, while Marlin added a double and stole a base. 

McWillie pitched four innings allowing one run on two hits and two walks, as he struck out four. Scott Waterman (Calgary, Alta.) took over trailing 1-0 and worked three scoreless allowing five hits. 

Soren Graversen (Calgary, Alta.) doubled, singled, knocked in a pair and stole a base, while Asselin also doubled. Atamanchuk singled to drive in a run. Scott Waterman (Calgary, Alta.) stole two bases and Bouzide one.  

Brendan Logan (Oyen, Alta.) and Valero earned a win for the Dawgs, who scored five times in the second on the way to an 11-5 win over TSD Travel Black Puerto Rico. That brought the Dawgs to 3-1 but they lost on a tie breaker due to run differential. 
 
Logan pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out one, while Valero had three hits, two RBIs and stole two bases.  

Ryan Morgan (St. John’s, NL) pitch 1 1/3 scores and Tanner Bercier (La Salle, Man.) pitched two innings allowing two runs -- one earned. 

Donnelly had two hits, including a double and knocked in two runs, as did Smith. Student singled and knocked in two runs, while Bouzide and Wakeham each singled and drove in a run.

* * *
In the bragging rights game before the tourney began, North Shore scored three in the first for a 5-4 win over the Dawgs.

Moretto and Lim each had two hits and knocked in a run, with Lim adding a double. Hupe singled in a run and Robert Mackie singled and stole a base.  

Matthew Watson (Vancouver, BC) started and pitched two scoreless, fanning three. Sereda worked next, allowing three runs. Clayton worked two innings, allowing one run, striking out four and picked up the victory. Or pitched a scoreless seventh for the save. 

Doleman tripled and drove in two runs for the Dawgs, while Valero and McWillie each doubled. Bouzide singled, knocked in a run and stole two bases, while Marlin and Wakeham each had hits.

The Dawgs went Johnny Wholestaff with Brunner starting and allowing three runs -- two earned. Undershute, Francis and Bercier had scoreless outings. Morgan and Logan each allowed a run. 

Okotoks won its only other exhibition game with eight runs in the fifth for a 15-7 victory over the Fullington Academy Trojans. 

Student hit a grand slam, while coach Jeff Duda unleashed the Dawgs as they went 17-for-18 stealing bases with Atamanchuk stealing four, with Bouzide, Donnelly and Asselin swiping three apiece. Donnelly tripled, singled, knocked in two as well. Atamanchuk had a pair of doubles, while Clapperton singled, knocked in a run and stole two bases, Jacob Bouzide and Doleman had the other hits, while Valero drove in a run.

Tighe with two innings, Smith and Asselin with one had scoreless soutings on the mound. Atamanchuk allowed an unearned run, while McWillie allowed one run and Marlin gave up five -- four earned. 

Pool D
Schools/Academies PCT W L T RA RS
Next Level Academy 1.000 4 0 0 3 34
North Shore Twins .500 2 2 0 14 19
Christ School Greenies .500 2 2 0 15 16
SBO Florida .250 1 3 0 33 16
East Cobb Eagles .250 1 3 0 36 16

Pool E
Schools/Academies PCT W L T RA RS
TNXL Academy Ducks 1.000 4 0 0 2 48
Okotoks Dawgs Academy .750 3 1 0 11 24
TSD Travel Black .500 2 2 0 28 27
EMB Gold .250 1 3 0 45 8
The Kings Academy Knights .000 0 4 0 28 7

Day I Leaders
Hitting
Rk Player AVG AB 1B 2B 3B HR RBI R Grad Hometown
1. Greg Student 1.000 2 2 0 0 0 2 1 2017 Sexsmith, AB
13. Jacob Bouzide .750 4 3 0 0 0 0 3 2017 Calgary, AB
23. Michael Clapperton .500 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2017 Calgary, AB 

Pitching
Rk Player ERA IP Grad Hometown
1. Jack Marlin 0.00 4.0 2018 Okotoks, AB
13. Graham Brunner 1.75 4.0 2018 Sherwood Park, AB

Day II Leaders
Hitting
Rk Player AVG AB 1B 2B 3B HR RBI R Grad Hometown 
1. Dion Wintjes 1.000 2 1 1 0 0 3 0 2018 Vancouver, BC
14. Jack Marlin .667 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 2018 Okotoks, AB
14, Steven Moretto .667 3 2 0 0 0 0 3 2017  Coquitlam, BC
14, Finn Kaczmarowski .667 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 2018 Vancouver, BC
14, Dylan Moore .667 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 2018 Vancouver, BC
14. LaRon Smith .667 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 2018 Spruce Grove, Alberta, AB
14. Soren Graversen .667 3 1 1 0 0 2 2 2017 Calgary, AB

Pitching
Rk Player ERA IP Grad Hometown
9. Thomas Hemer 1.50 4.67 2017 Vancouver, BC

All-tournament team
Team Players Grad School City St. Country   Pos PG Grade

Dawgs Shaun Atamanchuk 2017 Okotoks Dawgs Academy Beaumont AB CAN RHP     
Dawgs Tanner Bercier 2017 Okotoks Dawgs Academy La Salle MB CAN RHP
Dawgs Jacob Bouzide 2017 Okotoks Dawgs Academy Calgary AB CAN 2B   
North Shore Jayden Clayton 2018 Seycove Secondary North Vancouver BC CAN RHP
North Shore Alec Cumming 2017 Sentinel Secondary West Vancouver BC CAN 2B     

North Shore Cole Dalla-Zanna 2017 Burnaby Central Secondary Burnaby BC CAN LHP     
Dawgs Daniel Donnelly 2017 Okotoks Dawgs Academy Okotoks AB CAN OF
Dawgs Ethan Francis 2018 Foothills Composite Okotoks AB CAN RHP     
North Shore Thomas Hemer 2017 Point Grey Secondary Vancouver BC CAN RHP     
North Shore Finn Kaczmarowski 2018 Lord Byng Secondary Vancouver BC CAN OF    

Dawgs Tyler McWillie 2018 Foothills Composite Watrous SK CAN RHP     
North Shore Steven Moretto 2017 Notre Dame Secondary Coquitlam BC CAN 3B     
Dawgs Ryan Morgan 2017 Foothills Composite St. John’s NL CAN LHP     
North Shore Noah Or 2017 Hugh McRoberts Secondary Richmond BC CAN C     
North Shore Jake Richmond 2019 Elphinstone Secondary Gibsons, BC CAN LHP

Okotoks Dawgs LaRon Smith 2018 Foothills Composite Spruce Grove, AB CAN SS     
Okotoks Dawgs Benjamin Tighe 2017 Okotoks Dawgs Academy Okotoks AB CAN RHP     
Okotoks Dawgs William Undershute 2017 Okotoks Dawgs Academy Okotoks AB CAN LHP     
Okotoks Dawgs Scott Waterman 2018 Okotoks Dawgs Academy Calgary AB CAN LHP     
North Shore Matthew Watson 2017 Sentinel Secondary Vancouver BC CAN 2B