August 7, 2024

By Oakley Matthewson

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs defeated the Lethbridge Bulls 7-4 in Game 1 of the West Division semifinals in front of 3,980 fans at Seaman Stadium on Wednesday.

The Dawgs are now one win away from moving on to the West Division Finals in the best-of-three series.

The Dawgs’ offence was firing on all cylinders on Wednesday, recording 13 hits, including two home runs.

Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, N.S.) crushed the Dawgs’ first long ball of the night, a three-run shot over the centre field wall in the fifth inning. Crowell added another hit to finish 2-for-3.

Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) followed with a solo shot in the seventh inning and had two hits.

Jarrett Burney (Reinhardt University), Brendan Luther (Mississauga, Ont.) and Ricky Sanchez (Lamar University) also each had two hits for the Dawgs.

On the mound, veteran left-hander Graham Brunner (Sherwood Park, Alta.) started and allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out nine, in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win.

Gavin Wuschke (Regina, Sask.) would later enter in relief and toss a scoreless 1 2/3 innings to hold the lead until closer Ashton Luera (Oklahoma Wesleyan University) struck out two and held the Bulls off the scoreboard in the ninth to record the save.

The Dawgs now head to Spitz Stadium in Lethbridge to face the Bulls on Thursday in Game 2 of the West Division semifinals.