Peters, Merrill propel Dawgs to 6-1 win in regular season finale

Tristan Peters (Winnipeg, Man.) had two home runs and four RBIs for the Okotoks Dawgs on Wednesday. Photo: Okotoks Dawgs (file photo)

August 7, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

The Okotoks Dawgs beat the Medicine Hat Mavericks 6-1 in the final game of their regular season at Seaman Stadium on Wednesday night.

With the victory, the Dawgs finish the campaign with a 40-15 record and will now face the Edmonton Prospects in the first round of the playoffs which will begin on Thursday.

In Wednesday’s contest, the Dawgs fell behind early when the Mavericks scored a run in the top of the first inning, but WCBL batting average leader Tristan Peters led off the bottom of the frame with a home run to tie the game for the Dawgs.

The Dawgs’ bats were then quiet for the next six innings. Fortunately, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma pitcher Matt Merrill was outstanding on the mound. After surrendering five hits in the first three innings, the young right-hander proceeded to retire nine of the last 11 batters he faced. In all, he allowed just one run in six innings, while striking out eight, to pick up his first win as a Dawg.

The Dawgs’ bats came alive in the eighth inning. Dawgs Academy prospect Ricardo Sanchez gave his club a 2-1 lead when he slapped an RBI single. Peters then followed with a three-run home run, his second homer of the game and 12th of the season, to give him four RBIs on the night.

Okanagan College senior Davis Todosichuk would later score on a wild pitch to record the Dawgs’ fifth run of the inning and give them a 6-1 lead.

Jaxon Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.) recorded the final three outs for the Dawgs in the ninth in his season pitching debut.