Dawgs split two games with Red Sox on Saturday

Photo: Okotoks Dawgs

June 29, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

Okotoks, AB – A rain out on June 27 forced the first game of the series between the Okotoks Dawgs and Regina Red Sox to resume play in the top of the sixth inning with the Red Sox leading 2-1 on Saturday.

A late-game rally from the Dawgs lifted them to a 4-3 victory and their 20th win of the season.

Indiana State Southeast hurler Andrew Yates began the resumed game for the Dawgs and inherited a situation that saw Red Sox runners on the corners with one out. Yates promptly picked the runner off first base for the second out and would eventually escape the jam without allowing a run.

The Red Sox added a run in the top of the eighth to go up 3-1, before the Dawgs rallied for three runs to take the lead in the bottom of the frame.

UBC infielder Jaxon Valcke, who was second in the WCBL in batting average heading into the contest, showed why when he drove in the first Okotoks run in the eighth inning with an RBI double. He’d later score on a wild pitch.

In the same inning, Okanagan College outfielder and speedster Davis Todosichuk reached on a base hit for the Dawgs and stole second before he was driven in by WCBL batting average leader Tristan Peters, giving the Dawgs a 4-3 lead which they wouldn’t relinquish.

UBC pitcher Brendan Logan was credited with the win as he took over the game after the Dawgs scored to earn his second win of the season.

Dawgs pitcher and Bellevue University hurler Brandon Desjardins closed out the contest to earn the save.

Game 2

The Dawgs suffered their first home loss of the season when the Red Sox defeated them 7-5 on Saturday night.

The Red Sox got to UBC hurler Jared Spearing early with a two-run home run in the first inning and increased their lead to 3-0 before the Dawgs responded.

Spearing, in his fourth start of the season, lasted five innings, giving up six hits and three runs while striking out six.

A five-run third inning gave the Dawgs their only lead in the game. With the bases loaded, Linn-Benton shortstop Richard Mascarenas started the Dawgs’ rally with an RBI single. The Dawgs would add four more runs on a combination of two sacrifice plays from Iowa-Western outfielder Isiah Peterson and Texas State infielder Will Hollis and two passed balls.

Both teams failed to score again until the seventh inning when Virginia Tech pitcher Nick Vickers gave up two runs and then another pair of runs in the following inning to give the Red Sox a 7-5 lead, which is how the game would finish.

Vickers was credited with the loss following his relief appearance, surrendering four runs on three hits in three innings.

The Dawgs have the day off Sunday before they play the Eastern Division leaders Weyburn Beavers to open a three-game series on Canada Day at 7:05 p.m.