June 24, 2021

Dawgs 16U leads the way for the Dawgs Academy with 3-1 record on the weekend

By Tyler Milton

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs opened the Western Canadian Baseball League on the weekend, while two the Dawgs Academy teams in action this past weekend.

After an opening weekend which saw Dawgs 16U win three of four in Calgary, and 15U Red split, both teams were at home. The 16U Dawgs played host to the Red Deer Braves, while 15U Red saw the visiting Calgary Bucks Yellow come to town.

Deja vu set in, as both teams duplicated their opening weekend records, with 16U going 3-1 and 15U Red splitting their respective weekends.

Landon Knight was dominant on the mound. Knight silenced the Red Deer bats allowing two runs, both earned over his six innings of work. Trey Nott was equally as impressive in his start, allowing only one run and punching out six in his six innings. Nott had 14 first pitch strikes, among the 24 Braves he would face. Sebastien Cazorla was on his A game as he threw a complete game to capture a series victory for the Dawgs. Cazorla punched out six scattering a run on three hits, across his seven innings.

Kurtis Taylor, 16U pitching coach, said he felt that his team played a really well-rounded series against Red Deer.

“We were really good defensively, had solid pitching and limited the free passes over the four games,” said Taylor. “Offensively we were really good with situational hitting. They were really good team wins. It’s something we can definitely build off of as a ball club moving forward.”

Joey Karpiak led the Dawgs’ offence, picking up multiple multi-hit games. Gabe Simon, Brendan Gaboury and Hunter Jobs all had multiple hits over the weekend to help pace the Dawgs’ offence. The Dawgs 18U White found themselves tied atop the Baseball Alberta circuit, with a 6-2 record.

The 15U Red played Calgary Bucks Yellow at host at Conrad Field. Scott Smith and Doug McPhail’s Red Army looked to get the team rolling after splitting their opening weekend. Kaden Johnson and Thomas Snyder led the offence, tallying four hits each over the weekend. Kingston Besuijen and Ashton Crowe drove in multiple runs each, to help drive the Red bus over the weekend.

Veteran manager Smith likes what he sees from his youngsters.

“Our team has played well; we have to clean some things up defensively but our pitchers have really been our strongest asset to date,” said Smith. “I like what this team brings to the table and we will continue to get better as the season rolls along.”

Jordan Hurst and Kaden Johnson continue to lead the Red staff. Hurst (Grand Prairie, Alta.) hurled five innings allowing one earned and punching out five. Johnson (Langdon, Alta.) allowed three hits and punched out three in his four innings on Saturday. Pryor Woollett also threw a scoreless inning to help the Dawgs split their weekend four game set.

This week sees 16U travel to St. Albert to take on the St. Albert Cardinals Red (4-4). 15U Red heads to Calgary to play PBF Redbirds (0-8). 15U Black travels to Lethbridge, to face the Lethbridge Academy (3-3). Lastly, the 13U Dawgs are at home, seeing the Parkland Twins (7-1) and SEEBA Expos (5-3) come to town from Edmonton.