July 19, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Longtime Okotoks Dawgs ace Graham Brunner will start the WCBL All-Star Game for the West Division on Saturday night at Seaman Stadium.

It’s a decision that Dawgs manager Lou Pote and Dawgs pitching coach Joe Sergent made and told Brunner about after last night’s 4-3 win over the Moose Jaw Miller Express.

“It’s something he has earned not only this year, but during his overall time with the Dawgs,” said Pote. “He’s reliable and loyal, and this is something he just deserves.”

And no one in the Dawgs’ organization would disagree.

Brunner (Sherwood Park, Alta.), now in his seventh and final season with the Dawgs, has given his heart and soul to the organization, on and off the field. He was clearly touched when he was told he would be starting in Saturday’s WCBL showcase.

“I was very excited, especially with the All-Star Game being here in Okotoks and having a bunch of guys on the team that are in it,” said Brunner. “So, I’m pretty juiced to be able to start it off.”

He shot his parents, Joe and Joanne, a text right after he got the news.

Brunner has been part of three WCBL championship winning Dawgs teams, but he said this will be one of the top individual highlights of his career. One of the things he is most looking forward to is potentially throwing to Dawgs teammate and friend Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.).

It hasn’t been an easy season for the 6-foot-3 southpaw. A shoulder injury has limited Brunner to seven appearances (five starts) and 26 innings. But when he has pitched, he has been outstanding, going 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA.

Remarkably despite Brunner’s 28-5 career record in 46 appearances (43 starts) with the Dawgs, this will actually be the first time he has pitched in the WCBL All-Star Game. He was selected to the 2022 contest but did not play.

Sharing the news that he was giving the starting All-Star nod to Brunner was particularly gratifying for Pote, who has known Brunner since the lefty was 11 playing in Sherwood Park, Alta.

“I was like a little kid. I couldn’t wait to tell him,” said Pote. “To be able to give him that news and to his face and to see how much it meant to him, was really cool.”

Pote says Brunner has been everything the Dawgs could ask for as a player and a leader. The manager notes that Brunner can often be spotted doing laundry in the Duvernay Fieldhouse late into the night, and that it’s Brunner that gets word out to his teammates about bus times through a group text.

“Nobody cares more about the Okotoks Dawgs and Seaman Stadium than Graham Brunner does,” said Pote. “So, this is his last season with us and this is something that he has more than earned. There’s no one more deserving of it.”

Pote also wants to emphasize just how good of a pitcher Brunner is.

“No. 1, he’s a strike-thrower,” said Pote. “If you’re going to beat him, you’re going to get hits off him. He’s not going to beat himself by walking guys . . . Every single time he’s out there, he’s giving you a chance to win and that’s all you can ask for in a starting pitcher.”

The 24-year-old Brunner, who debuted with the Dawgs at 17, isn’t sure what he will do after this season. He’d like to play independent professional ball, but he’s not sure if “his body will hold out.”

In between his summers with the Dawgs, Brunner has also pitched in the U.S. college ranks for Crowder College, Illinois State and Emporia State and has earned a degree in sports leadership and recreation with a minor in coaching.

“Goal number 1 would be to come back here and coach with the Dawgs Academy,” said Brunner. “That’s kind of what I want to do, but obviously there are only a few spots.”

But after talking to Pote on Friday, my sense is there’s a good chance the Dawgs will find room for Saturday’s All-Star Game starter.

“He’s definitely one of the best that has gone through here, not only in performance on the field, but in character. He’s what we want in a Dawg,” said Pote. “He’s going to be successful at whatever he does.”