Dawgs rout Brooks for second straight win
Photo: Okotoks Dawgs
June 18, 2019
By Dan Khavkin
Okotoks Dawgs
Okotoks, AB- Their potent offence once again paved the way for the Okotoks Dawgs, as they cruised to their second straight win over the Brooks Bombers.
The Dawgs (12-4) improved to 5-1 on the season against the Bombers following a 9-1 route Tuesday night.
Dawgs hurler Nick Vickers faced off against the Brooks squad (4-13) for the third time this season.
"It worked both ways. They knew what I was going to throw but I knew how they were going to attack me," Vickers said after the win, when asked about facing the Bombers for a third time.
"It helped that they expected certain stuff out of me so I was able to adjust by throwing change-ups they weren't used to seeing from me when my velocity of the fastball began to drop... the cheap outs began to add up."
Virginia Tech product Vickers went six strong innings, surrendering four hits while striking out five to record his third win of the season.
Coach Mitch Schmidt was satisfied with the way his team performed.
"We made good team adjustments. They threw five arms at us so we had to check the charts and allow our hitters who already saw theirs, make the adjustments and they proved to work," he said post-game.
The Bombers misfired for the rest of the game after scoring their one and only run to open the contest.
Thompson Rivers second baseman Liam Rihela carried the Dawgs on offence with his second straight three-RBI game. He launched his first home run of the season in the second inning.
Okotoks scored four runs in the third inning and three in the fifth and shut the Bombers down the rest of the way.
The Dawgs’ bullpen silenced the Bombers, limiting them to two hits in the final three innings between three pitchers. Linn-Benton pitcher Daniel Ferrario made his debut in the seventh inning and reportedly threw in the 90 mph range.
The Dawgs will now head south to face the defending league champion Medicine Hat Mavericks on Wednesday before returning to Seaman Stadium and host the Edmonton Prospects on Thursday.