June 13, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

Moose Jaw, SASK- A familiar and relentless offence for the Okotoks Dawgs paved the way towards a 13-4 knockout victory over the Moose Jaw Miller Express Thursday in the game-three rubber match of the series.

Head coach Mitch Schmidt was happy with the response he got from his team following the close decision last night.

“Our pitchers attacked their hitters and our hitters punished their pitchers. That’s what we asked for… for them to have a street-fight mentality and the guys delivered,” he says.

Back into divisional play, Schmidt says the team needs to continue this level of play.

“Those teams are in our division and they want our spot. We know that, so we’re carrying the same mentality as we did tonight heading into the next series and the ones after that.”

For the second straight night, a Lewis-Clark State College hurler made his Okotoks debut as Tanner Simpson took on the bump Thursday night.

The North Bend, Wash. native enjoyed a solid outing, lasting seven innings while yielding a mere five hits and striking out six in his first Dawgs appearance and win.

The Dawgs (9-3) found their rhythm early as their potent offence recorded their 17th and 18th first-inning runs of the season on a sacrifice-fly RBI from Brett Esau that advanced runner Isaiah Peterson to third base before he ran in the second run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Meadow Lake, Sask., native Esau accounted for three RBIs on the night.

The Millers (6-7) found the board in the bottom of the third inning on a base-hit from Michael Borst that left two men on base with one out, but Simpson weathered the storm and forced a ground ball double play that was turned by the Dawgs defence to end the threat.

Okotoks responded with a four-spot in the fourth inning.

Lead-off man Tristan Peters answered for the Dawgs by continuing to swing a hot-stick after resting on his day off, smoking a three-run blast at the top of the fourth inning with no outs and busting the game open for the Dawgs with his third home run of the season.

Peters' four-RBI game and team-leading 13th RBI of the season also chased out Moose Jaw starting pitcher Nico Portillo who gave up his ninth hit and sixth run of the ball game.

Okotoks continued to pressure the Miller Express’ defence that gave up 14 hits and two errors by the fifth inning.

Runs off an error, a wild pitch and a Jaxon Valcke bloop single capped off a three-run fifth inning that also put a 10 spot on the board for the fourth time this season for the Dawgs.

Peters cashed in another runner during the top of the eighth inning for the Dawgs’ 13th and final run.

Okotoks travels to Brooks on Friday for the first two of a three-game set with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m., before the Bombers conclude the series back at Seaman Stadium on Father’s Day on Sunday June 16.