August 16, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs won their first league championship in 10 years after defeating the Regina Red Sox 8-6 on Friday at Seaman Stadium.

Trailing 5-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Dawgs erupted for four runs which helped them seal their come-from-behind victory.

The Dawgs opened the scoring in the second inning when Bellevue University commit Liam Rihela lead off with a solo home run, his first of the post-season.

The Red Sox would respond with three runs in the top half of the third inning off Dawgs starter Tanner Simpson. with the key blow being a two-run double by shortstop Adam De La Cruz.

But Simpson settled in after that frame to toss three scoreless innings before being replaced by Academy of Art hurler Galen Manhard in the seventh. In all, Simpson hurled six innings and gave up three runs on eight hits while fanning three.

The Dawgs would tie the game in the fifth inning when JT Patterson walked and Tristan Peters doubled before Okanagan College senior Davis Todosichuk singled to score Patterson. Linn-Benton prospect Gavin Logan then hit into a fielder’s choice which scored Peters to tie the game at three.

The Dawgs would take the lead in the sixth when Todosichuk cashed in shortstop Ricardo Sanchez with another RBI single.

But the Dawgs’ 5-4 lead was short-lived. In the seventh inning, Red Sox second baseman Ivan Nunez would club a two-run home run - one of his four hits on the night - to put his club ahead 5-4.

After Boise State signee Dan Ferrario tossed a 1-2-3 inning for the Dawgs in the eighth, the home squad’s bats came alive in the bottom of the frame. After William Hollis singled to begin the inning, he was pinch run for by Richard Mascarenas who would then advance to second on an error by the pitcher before Sanchez came through with a game-tying RBI single.

After Patterson flew out, Peters reached first base on an error and with runners on first and third, Todosichuk laid down a bunt that scored Sanchez to put the Dawgs ahead 6-5.

Two batters laters, Logan belted a two-run, two-out RBI double to make the score 8-5.

The Red Sox managed to score a run off Dawgs closer Brandon Desjardins in the ninth, but the Calgary native would secure the final three out to record the save and preserve the win.