The Okotoks Dawgs have experience and momentum on their side as they've cruised through the first quarter of the regular season.
With high expectations, the two-time defending Western Canadian Baseball League champs boast a 13-1 record for first place in the West Division, 2.5 games up on the Sylvan Lake Gulls.
“That’s what it’s all about, is trying to put yourself in a position to win your division,” said manager Lou Pote. “The expectation here is to win a championship every year.”
With 14 games behind them, the team is finding out where players fit in to give them the best shot come playoff time.
Rotating pitchers now helps assign roles for down the road, Pote said.
“Pitching is one area where we try to get guys in the games and see who fits better in the later innings,” he said.
The Dawgs have depth and ability when it comes to hitting, pitching and defence, but their bats have been especially potent.
“I think hitting has been a strength compared to last year,” he said. “It seems like we're getting 10, 11 runs every single game, and that’s not always going to be the case.”
If hitting cools down, pitching or defence can take over, and that's something the team builds for during the regular season, Pote said. When all three click at the same time, the Dawgs are hard to beat.
“That’s when you win championships and that’s when you want to be playing your best baseball, in the playoffs," he said. “Our goal is to be firing on all cylinders come playoff time.”
As the season progresses, Dawgs who are experiencing their first season in front of sellout crowds adjust to the atmosphere at Seaman Stadium, he added.
“A lot of guys don’t get the chance to play in front of big crowds,” Pote said. “Getting past the nerves of playing in front of that many people is something that, as we move forward in the season, they really settle into.”
The Dawgs' next game is against the Lethbridge Bulls at Seaman Stadium on Wednesday, June 19, which is also Jersey Night.
