Okotoks Dawgs coaches to return in 2020

September 3, 2019

Official Okotoks Dawgs Press Release

Okotoks, AB.......Fresh off capturing the 2019 Western Canadian Baseball League championship, the Okotoks Dawgs announce that their entire coaching staff will return for the 2020 season.

Mitch Schmidt, associate head coach at Bellevue University in Nebraska, will reprise his role as Dawgs Head Coach. Legendary coach and longtime Dawgs coaching mentor, David Robb (Mesa Community College, Arizona) will return as Bench and Hitting Coach. Former Seattle Mariners minor league and Oregon State player and coach, current Linn Benton Community College skipper, Andy Peterson, will return as Third Base and Infield Coach. Joe Sergent, former Florida Marlins minor league pitcher and current Dawgs Academy coach, will again serve as Dawgs Pitching Coach.

The Dawgs had an outstanding 2019 season, finishing first in the West Division of the WCBL with a 40-15 record, then knocking off Edmonton and Lethbridge in the playoffs before sweeping East Division Champs, the Regina Red Sox to capture their fifth WCBL Championship before another sold out crowd at Seaman Stadium.

Dawgs managing director, John Ircandia, offered the following remarks:

“2019 was an extraordinary season and we are excited to bring back the coaching staff that made it all happen. This year’s championship more than any other was a testament to the determination and commitment of our coaches and our players. The road to this championship began in our locker room in May and ended in August on the field at Seaman Stadium before 4,000 of the best fans in baseball.”

Ballpark Digest and Ballpark Biz, two leading US online baseball resources, reported that the Dawgs with attendance just shy of 4,000 fans per game, ranked third in all of North America among summer collegiate franchises in attendance.

Dawgs also announced that the club, in collaboration with the Town of Okotoks, will undertake significant improvements in the offseason to add additional concessions, hospitality patios, washrooms and a new visitors clubhouse to the already extraordinary Seaman Stadium.