December 28, 2022

By Jeff Duda

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs 2022 season both at the summer collegiate and Youth Academy levels can only be viewed as an unmitigated success.

Emerging from a devastating global pandemic that prompted the cancellation of the entire 2020 season, a reduced version of a 2021 season, the Dawgs reached new heights in 2022.

Meeting the COVID Challenge

Despite the financial challenges resulting from the pandemic, the Dawgs remained 100% committed to maintaining its exemplary role in the community. In particular, the Dawgs undertook a number of initiatives in this regard including but not limited to Dawgs Food Bank Drives whereby the club raised significant funds and collected in excess of 4000 lbs. of non-perishable food items for the local Food Bank.

In addition, the Dawgs continued to conduct its School Reading Program to all local elementary schools modifying the program to include “Virtual” reading when necessary to comply with health and government regulations. Further, with over 130 youth players engaged in the Dawgs Academy, Dawgs Coaches developed a training Program to assist player development and promote mental and physical health and wellbeing during the worst of the pandemic.

The Virtual Program gave way to the first amateur onsite practice plan to be approved as Dawgs executive liaised with health and government officials to obtain approval of a “Health & Safety First” practice [lan that the Dawgs had developed. It is a testament to the dedication, creativity and hard work of our Dawgs coaching staff that despite the shut down due to the pandemic and the inability of Dawgs teams to travel to showcase tournaments across the United States, the Dawgs were able to maintain a 100% graduation rate to US and Canadian colleges and universities.

In addition, as restrictions imposed by the health and government authorities eased, the Dawgs were at the forefront of professional and amateur sports franchises in offering our communities positive, healthy, outdoor, family entertainment while adhering to the health and safety regulations in effect from time to time. As such, despite the closure of the Canada/US border restricting travel and the participation of American players, the Dawgs spearheaded an initiative among other like minded teams in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) to offer the community an All Canadian Safety First, 2021 Season where team rosters were comprised of strictly Canadian players. In order to accomplish this, the Dawgs worked hand in hand with the health and government authorities to ensure fans and players were adequately protected.

This involved introducing several health and safety features and protocols throughout the Stadium and related facilities. This initiative was a major success and the best illustration of that is the fact that the Dawgs were able to host a sellout crowd (capped by the Dawgs for safety reasons at 3,500 fans) on Canada Day 2021 with the Premier of Alberta in attendance.

Dawgs & Dawgs Academy Return Full Force in 2022

Summer Collegiate Dawgs: 2022 was truly a phenomenal season for the Dawgs at Seaman Stadium highlighted by a first-place finish with a WCBL record 43 wins during the regular season, exciting playoff wins and another WCBL championship before a record breaking crowd in Okotoks.

Dawgs Academy grad, Ricardo Sanchez (Barton CC) was named league MVP, Brendan Luther (OCC, Bellevue) captured WCBL Playoff MVP honors and Micah McDowell (Oregon State) was named Dawgs Team MVP and WCBL First Team All-star. Two former Dawgs and Academy grads were selected in the 2022 amateur draft. Jacob Melton and Gavin Logan, who both spent the spring at Oregon State were selected in the second and ninth round respectively by the Houston Astros and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In terms of fan attendance, Ballpark Digest reported that the Dawgs averaged 4,207 fans per game for the regular season with 5,003 fans attending on Canada Day and a record shattering 6,000 fans in attendance at the WCBL All Star Game and Home Run Derby. In June, 2022, the Dawgs welcomed their millionth fan to Seaman Stadium! The entire Dawgs 2022 season was an illustration of how our market communities were ready to “break out” after the historic negativity associated with the pandemic and enjoy some positive, healthy, outdoor, family friendly, activities; that being the very definition of Dawgs Baseball at Seaman Stadium.

Beyond baseball, the Dawgs and its donors added over $2 Million in facility upgrades to enhance the viewing experience of our extraordinary fan base at Seaman Stadium. Highlighting these improvements were the completion of the Kore 4 (+14) Corner, hospitality patios and “Front Row” seating section, a new visitors’ clubhouse, the Grog & Grub concession, a new washroom building, the expansion of the walkway along the Family Berm, construction of two large pergolas and the addition of a berm countertop viewing area.

In addition and in anticipation of the greater crowds, the Dawgs added satellite concession stations, new fibre optik high speed internet throughout the Stadium, a mobile concession application and a number of TV monitors on the Seaman Stadium concourse.

Dawgs Youth Academy:

The success of the summer collegiate Dawgs was matched by the Dawgs Youth Academy. Perfect Game Scouting Service ranked the Dawgs 18U Black Team the 3

rd top (No. 1 in Canada) youth travel team in North America. The Dawgs second 18U squad, Dawgs Red was ranked 70th (No. 2 in Canada).

In the fall of 2022, the Dawgs Academy scheduled another West Coast college tour playing 18 games in 17 days against premier NCAA college competition including the University of Utah, Washington State, Gonzaga, the University of Oregon, Oregon State and the University of Portland.

A few other Dawgs Academy highlights:

● 72 College placements including 20 NCAA D1 commitments, seven of which are Power 5 commits;

● Eight Dawgs Academy players were invited to play on Canada’s Jr. National Team;

● 12 Dawgs attended the Toronto Blue Jays Showcase;

● Dawgs Academy alumni selected in the draft Tristan Peters (7th round pick; Milwaukee Brewers) Gavin Logan (ninth round pick; Arizona Diamondbacks);

● Dawgs Academy alumni Alejo Lopez made his debut with Cincinnati Reds;

● Dawgs Academy and collegiate alumni Jim Henderson made his coaching Debut with Milwaukee Brewers;

● Five Dawgs Academy alumni earned College World Series championships including Ayden Makarus and Jackson Fraser (LSU-Eunice; NJCAA D2), Ty Johnson and Matt Wilkinson (Central Arizona College; NJCAA D1) & Clayton Keyes (Southeastern University; NAIA).

Glimpse into Dawgs 2023

The Dawgs will continue to raise the bar in 2023 in terms of enhancing our player and fan experience. Facility upgrades anticipated in time for the 2022 season include an iconic new Da Dawgs Beach Bar on the Anthem Hospitality Patio, a new Ay Caramba Cantina on the Fortis Family Patio and two new Pergolas.

In the fall of 2023, the Dawgs plan to add new ground level hospitality suites with rooftop patios extending along the left field fence from Kore 4 Korner as well as a New Seating Section in order to afford more fans with an opportunity to experience the grassroots phenomenon that is Dawgs Baseball at Seaman Stadium.