July 4, 2024

By Oakley Matthewson

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs rebounded from their loss to the Lethbridge Bulls on Wednesday to sweep a doubleheader against the Edmonton Prospects on Thursday at Seaman Stadium.

With the two wins, the Dawgs are 23-5 on the season and sit atop the Western Canadian Baseball League’s West Division standings, a half-game ahead of the Sylvan Lake Gulls.

The Dawgs beat the Prospects 9-2 in the first contest, which was a seven-inning make-up game for a rainout earlier this season.

Jarrett Burney (Reinhardt University) led the Dawgs’ offence with three hits, including a three-run home run. Kadyn Williams (Emporia State University) also had three hits, while Brendan Luther (Mississauga, Ont.) and Connor Crowson (Okotoks, Alta.) had two each.

On the mound, Cam Stephens (Linn-Benton CC) started and allowed two runs in four innings, while striking out a pair to pick up the win. Greg Ross (Sarnia, Ont.) followed with two scoreless innings, while Quinn Tocheniuk (Okotoks, Alta.) held the Prospects off the scoreboard in the final frame.

The Dawgs also won the second game, which featured an 80’s night promotion, 7-2 over the Prospects.

Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, N.S.) belted a three-run home run for the Dawgs, his fourth homer of the campaign. Meanwhile, four other Dawgs players - Dawson Santana (Oregon State University), Aidan Rose (Calgary, Alta.), Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) and Lou Anderson (Montreal, Que.) - had two hits each.

Local right-hander Brody Forno (Okotoks, Alta.) started and allowed just two hits, while striking out six, in six scoreless innings for the Dawgs to pick up the win. Zane Morrison (Campbellsville University) and Cade Herrmann (Bellevue University) also kept the Prospects off the board in their respective one-inning relief appearances.

The Dawgs will play the Prospects again on Friday at Seaman Stadium in the third game of a five-game series.