It's a tight race for first place as the Okotoks Dawgs' regular season draws to a close.
With a record of 37-15 following their July 31 loss against the Lethbridge Bulls, the Dawgs are in a tie for first with the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the Western Canadian Baseball League, with both West Division teams wrapping up their season on Aug. 5.
The Dawgs have lost three straight for the first time this season after falling 9-6 to the Bulls on Monday night.
Before the game, Dawgs coach David Robb said the team is not going to start worrying about the standings now.
"We didn't get (where we are) by panicking or playing any differently," Robb said.
Finishing in first place would be a bonus for playoff considerations, but they aren't thinking that far ahead, he said.
“It’s trying to just get the players to understand that they play for today, and one out at a time, one pitch at a time.”
In this final week of the regular season, the plan is to go out and play the best they can, stay motivated and score runs, he said.
“That seems to be what we’re dealing with mostly, is not being able to score runs.”
The Dawgs will be looking for some quality at-bats and multi-run innings, he said.
With games every night until the end of the season on Saturday, the Dawgs hit the road to play the third-place Lethbridge Bulls at Spitz Stadium on Aug 1 for the first of four road games. From Lethbridge, the Dawgs travel to Swift Current for two games on Aug. 2 and 3.
The Dawgs play in Lethbridge again on Aug. 4, before hosting the Bulls at Seaman Stadium on Aug. 5 to end the season.
Both Lethbridge and Swift Current like to play at home, Robb said.
“They’re not going to roll over for us. We handle (Swift Current) pretty well at home, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot when we get there.”
Continuing what has worked so far this season will be key to success down the stretch, Robb said.
“Trusting what, as a player, they can do and have been doing,” Robb said of the mindset needed.
He said when the Dawgs play like they can, they're hard to beat.
The Moose Jaw Miller Express have a nine-game lead in the East Division.
