How will the Okotoks Dawgs follow up on a historically successful season?
We’re about to find out.
The Dawgs open the 2023 Western Canadian Baseball League season this weekend backed by a veteran core of returning players looking to post an encore performance to what was an unprecedented summer at the friendly confines of Seaman Stadium.
“It’s invaluable, those guys know what it entails, the demands of the travel, going to a city and getting back late at night,” said Dawgs interim manager Lou Pote.
“When you have those guys that have been through the ringer for a few years now and then added that they've been a part of a couple of championships here, it’s a lot easier for us and the staff because those guys know what it’s like to play in this league and what to expect so it’s not a surprise to them.”
On top of a sixth WCBL championship, the Dawgs set a league record with 43 wins in 2022 while shattering their own average and total attendance during the summer.
The Dawgs led the league in virtually every offensive category, from RBI to hits, runs, doubles, triples, finished second in most team pitching statistics and topped the western loop with the best fielding percentage while boasting the fewest amount of errors.
Pote, whose heading up coaching duties with Mitch Schmidt on medical leave for the season, will have the benefit of a veteran core with both championship experience and familiarity with the program as graduates of the vaunted Dawgs Academy.
Incumbents include sparkplug infielder Ricardo Sanchez, playoff MVP Brendan Luther along with all-star outfielders Alejandro Cazorla, Micah McDowell and Noah Geekie.
On the mound, southpaw Graham Brunner will look to build on his league-leading seven wins with the Dawgs last season. He’s joined by Linn-Benton hurler Brady Baltus, the winning pitcher in Okotoks’ championship clinching victory over Moose Jaw, along with dominant lefty Matt Wilkinson and key relievers Ryan McFarland, Brody Forno, Quinn Tocheniuk and Cade Hermann.
“It’s a lot of similar faces,” Pote said.
Behind the plate, Caleb Lumbard returns from last season alongside Dawgs Academy alumnus Logan Grant and Conner Stewart out of San Diego City College.
“(Monday) was report day where they’re just getting into town after finishing their college season,” Pote said. “We’re just trying to get everybody in here, get them their gear, uniforms and acclimated with their new teammates and get them as comfortable as possible for Friday.”
A number of players are still finishing up their seasons, including Luther and Grant with the NAIA World Series bound Bellevue University Bears along with McDowell at Oregon State, to name a few.
“It’s kind of up in the air for when we’ll get a couple of those guys,” Pote said. “It’s a good problem to have, if they make it to the World Series great, but if not, we get them a little sooner.”
Okotoks trades home and road dates for the first 10 games of the season, starting with the May 26 home opener against the Brooks Bombers at 7 p.m.. The Dawgs are in Brooks the following night and return home for a May 28 matinee versus the Lethbridge Bulls at 2 p.m.
“Opening weekend is always a little bit different,” the coach added. “Everybody’s excited, a lot of these guys are going to be playing in front of bigger crowds than they played at in the past or during their college seasons.
“You only get one opening day so enjoy it and take it all in and have fun with it.”
On the heels of a record crowd for the WCBL All-Star Game last summer, the Dawgs will once again be hosting the midsummer classic with the 2023 incarnation on July 15 at Seaman Stadium.
Upgrades to the stadium experience this season include the addition of pergolas on all hospitality patios including Kore 4 (+14) Corner, a new Dawgs Beach Bar on the Anthem Patio as well as the New Golden Sombrero Cantina on the Fortis Alberta Patio.
For more information on the team, visit dawgsbaseball.ca.
