June 16, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

Okotoks, AB- After suffering their first-ever loss to the Brooks Bombers in four seasons of league play, the Okotoks Dawgs answered with an emphatic 14-3 win on Father’s Day Sunday in front of a capacity crowd at Seaman Stadium.

Head coach Mitch Schmidt notes the importance of having a strong showing on such a special day.

“Today’s win was very important. Playing in front of this crowd, on Father’s Day, in front so many fans who took their special day to watch Dawgs Baseball is special," he says.

“For us to come out and get rolling the way we did after last night, adjusting accordingly as we talked on the bus on our way back, showed how much of a great job the guys put together.”

The momentum swayed back and forth between the teams, but it was the Dawgs who eventually broke out with 12 runs between the sixth and seventh innings.

Crowder College pitcher Graham Brunner took the mound for his second start of the season and pitched five innings, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out four.

Relief pitcher Shay Shanaman was credited with the win, fanning six batters in two innings of work.

The Dawgs took the first lead on an RBI single from Iowa-Western product Isaiah Peterson in the second inning. But the Bombers answered and took a 2-1 lead after stringing together base-hits that forced Brunner out of the game.

The Dawgs responded by tying the game 2-2 with a solo shot from Tristan Peters. It was his fifth home run of the season.

After that, the momentum shifted in the favour of the Dawgs, as they totalled five runs in the sixth inning.

After Oregon State infielder Zak Taylor got on base and stole second following a meeting with his coaches, Liam Rihela singled and knocked in a run before also stealing second. Bellevue catcher Riley Baasch then drove him in for the second run of the inning. After a second out, the Dawgs held their composure and brought in three more batters to end the inning.

The Dawgs followed up with a seven-run, seventh inning to help secure their 14-3 win.

Rihela, a Thompson Rivers second baseman, and Chandler-Gilbert's Peters both had a team-leading three RBIs in the game.

The Dawgs have Monday off before they host Brooks again on Tuesday, June 17 at Seaman Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.