August 5, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

In 2020-21, a number of grade 11 and grade 12 students headed south of the border to play since many local diamonds and programs were shut down.

Remember the early days -- you can’t play catch with a non-family member?

Sandlot diamonds were in full swing this summer and same for south of the border. NEB National, one of the destinations for some Canadians, reached the final of the Perfect Game World Series.

Well done.

Except they ran into the Okotoks Dawgs Academy Black and thanks to the pitching of RHP Tyrell Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) and RHP Brandon LeBlanc (Mill Bay, BC), plus hitters 1B Jacob Gillis (Fergus, Ont.) and RF Max Hartman (Okotoks, Alta.), the Dawgs beat NEB National 4-2 to take the title at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Max Hartman hit a two-run triple in the four-run sixth, while Gillis had a pair of singles. Chadwick picked up the win, working 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and three walks. He struck out six to earn MVPitcher honours.

LeBlanc took over and got the final two outs for the save and coaches Val Helldobler, Jeff Duda and Tyler Hollick.

Round robin, Game I

Two runs in the fifth inning gave the Dawgs a 3-2 win over the SBO Florida 18U in the opener of round-robin play.

3B Hank Griffin (Montreal, Que.) had a day, going 2-for-2, while DH Kobe Laevens (Spruce Grove, Alta.) and C Andrew Johnston (Toronto, Ont.) each knocked in runs. Griffin and Johnston each doubled.

LeBlanc pitched five innings for the win, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks, while fanning four. Logan Rumberg (Okotoks, Alta.) didn’t allow a run in his two scoreless innings striking out three.

2B Brandon Paez (Mont Candiac, Que.), SS Eric Machej (Okotoks, Alta.) and 1B Leo Cote (Ste-Catherine-De-Hatley, Que.) had the other hits for the Dawgs.

Round robin, Game II

Chadwick and Connor Pote (Okotoks, Alt.) combined on a four hitter as the Dawgs blanked the Florida Jaguars 8-0 to move to 2-0. Chadwick gave up three hits and two walks, as he struck out four. Pote took over and allowed one base runner in two frames as he fanned two.

Gillis led the 12-hit attack with a home run, knocking in a pair of runs, while DH Benito Bonilla (Okotoks, Alta.) and Louis-Felix Anderson (Piedmont, Que.) each doubled and singled while Anderson drove in a pair. LF Ryder Hancock (Calgary, Alta.) had a pair of hits, knocking in a run.

The other hits went to CF Eric Hartman (Okotoks, Alta.), Paez, Max Hartman, Machej and Griffin, who also knocked in a run.

Round robin, Game III

The teams scored four runs in the sixth and final inning but the result created by all those runs being scored saw the Dawgs play the Chicago Chi Town Cream 6-6. Okotoks scored three in the top half for a 6-5 lead, but Chicago rallied to even the score.

Max Hartman had two hits, including a double and stole a base, while Eric Hartman also doubled, knocking in a pair of runs.

RHP Jerome Pare (Montreal, Que.) was solid in his start pitching 3 1/3 scoreless allowing two hits and fanning one. Boston Warkentin (Ladner, BC) put up a zero allowing a hit and fanning a pair. Trey Nott (Okotoks, Alta.) allowed one unearned run in his inning. Alexandre Dionne (Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) gave up three runs and Jackson Sherren (Cornwall, PEI) two -- one earned -- in their appearances.

Johnston also drove in a pair of runs, while Hancock singled and drove in a run. Machej and Bonilla had the other hits for the Dawgs, whose record sat at 2-0-1.

Round robin, Game IV

Andy Beamin (Okotoks, Alta.) received absolutely zero support from his offence as the Dawgs fell 2-0 to the Willy Mo Dragons Scout Team. Each team had six hits.

Beamin allowed two runs on six hits and four walks while striking out eight. Conor Pote (Okotoks, Alta.) came on to get the final out.

At the plate, Eric Hartman and Machej had a pair of hits each, with Machej contributing a double. Sherren and Max Hartman had the other hits.

The loss dropped the Dawgs record to 2-1-1.

Round robin, Game IV

Rumberg was dominant in a 7-2 complete-game win against EPE 17U. He allowed two runs -- one earned -- five hits and a walk. He struck out seven for the victory.

LF Hancock doubled to knock in three runs, while Griffin singled and doubled. Eric Hartman and Bonilla each singled in a run, while Gillis had the other hit.

Pool Standings

Pool A

Team Names PCT W-L-T RA RS

Chi Town Cream .900 4-0-1 8 33

Okotoks Dawgs Black .700 3-1-1 12 24

EPE 17U National .600 3-2-0 13 17

Wily Mo Dragons Scout Team .600 3-2-0 12 18

Sbo Florida 18u .200 1-4-0 27 13

Florida Jaguars .000 0-5-0 40 7

Semi-final

The Dawgs turned to Warkentin in semi-final play and Warkentin pitched them into the championship final with a 7-2 win over Siege 18U Scout Team.

Warkentin pitched a complete-game seven innings, throwing 92 pitches (62 for strikes, 67.4%). Warkentin allowed two runs on three hits and three walks. He fanned nine as he was touched for a pair of runs in the sixth with the Dawgs up 4-0.

CF Eric Hartman tripled to knock in a run, while Johnston doubled, single and had an RBI. Hancock and Machej each singled and drove in a pair of runs each.

The Dawgs named to the World Series all-tournament team were Rumberg, who has committed to George Mason, Warkentin, who is headed to Washington, Machej. Hartman, Hancock, Leblanc, Johnston, Beamin and Chadwick.

And …. you read about the win in the finale already.