September 16, 2021

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Why is Ricardo Sanchez similar to the Tokyo Olympic Games?

Because one was supposed to take place in 2020 just as the other was scheduled to be honoured in 2020.

Neither happened until 2021.

You know all about the Olympics, but Sanchez?

Well, the former Okotoks Dawg is the winner of the annual Canadian Baseball Network Okotoks scholarship award.

The Dawgs learned of Ricardo Sanchez through his older brother, Eduardo Sanchez, who along with Cincinnati Red infielder, Alejo Lopez, were the first players to join the Dawgs from Mexico City. All three were middle infielders.

“All three had wonderful parents and became outstanding members of the Dawgs,” said John Ircandia, founding director and Dawgs Hall of Famer. “Alejo was drafted and played 14 games with the Reds (and now is at triple-A Louisville). Eddie was a fantastic college player and a summer collegiate Dawgs All-Star.

“Ricky was in the same mould: great makeup and character, outstanding defensively, great hand-eye at the plate and instincts you just can’t teach.”

How good was Ricardo? In his senior year of high school he was already an impact player on the Dawgs summer collegiate roster, known as a catalyst in the field and the batter’s box.

Playing 72 games at short -- and batting lead off in every game -- for the Dawgs Academy, he hit .437 with 25 doubles, three triples and 42 stolen bases. He scored 79 times and had a 1.123 OPS, while walking 44 times and striking out 17 times. He also played 26 games with summer Dawgs college team.

“When we map out our big Dawgs roster and invariably focus on being strong up the middle, Ricky is the first name on the board with position #6 next to his name,” said Ircandia, the Dawgs’ Big Dawg. “The crowd loves him, our coaches love him and this Big Dawg loves him!”

Coach Jeff Duda remembers a trip to the Langley B.C. tournament when an University of Washington recruiter came to see both OF Micah McDowell (Halifax, NS) and INF Cesar Valero Sanchez (Calgary, Alta.).

“He watched four of our games, and then said ‘that shortstop of yours ... he does everything right,’” said Duda. “You have to watch him a lot to see him, recognize his talents.”

After playing for the Crowder Roughriders and seeing little time this spring, Sanchez has transferred to Barton Cougars.

“Ricky was always incredibly positive and supportive of his teammates,” said Duda of the 5-foot-9, 185-pounder. “He’s small, he doesn’t jump out at you -- but he can play.”

OF Danny Donnelly (Okotoks, Alta.) and OF Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) are former Canadian Baseball Network scholarship winners.

“Ricardo Sanchez is the type of player that by the end of the month becomes everyone’s favourite teammate,” said former Dawgs coach Allen Cox, who coached Sanchez both with the Dawgs and then this summer with the Myrtle Beach 8’s in the Myrtle Beach summer collegiate league. “He is a line to line hitter and makes every routine play. Those who get to watch him play get to see what a complete player looks like. He reminds me a lot of his really good friend and ex-Dawg Alejo Lopez, who saw time with the Reds this season.”

Cox said he could talk forever about Sanchez.

“He even got on the mound once and threw upper 80s with three hitless innings,” said Cox. “We played an inter league game against the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plains League and he made a play up the middle that the opposing 1,500 fans stood up and applauded.”