You can’t blame baseball enthusiasts for dreaming big ahead of the WCBL All-Star Game.
For the third consecutive summer, the Okotoks Dawgs play host to the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby at Seaman Stadium with the 2024 event held on Saturday, July 20.
“Each year it seems to top it,” said Dawgs coach Lou Pote, the manager for Team West. “I hope there’s a walk-off home run, being a pitcher, our guys throwing a no-hitter against the other team would be pretty cool.”
The 2022 event saw an extra-innings finish with Sylvan Lake Gulls infielder Ethan He providing the walk-off heroics. Last summer, Gulls catcher Hank Dodson stole the show in the home run derby with his father Drew handling the pitching duties. The 2023 iteration drew over 6,000 fans to Seaman Stadium.
“I hope it’s just as exciting with a ton of home runs, I hope with the home run derby that guys hit 25 each," Pote said. "I think that would be a fitting way to have it go, but it’s going to be hard to top Dodson’s dad throwing to him in the derby.”
The Dawgs will be represented with eight players on the Team West roster, pitchers Garrett Maloney, Seth Thompson and Chase Tucker along with infielders Connor Crowson, Brendan Luther, outfielders Barry Eiseman and Tucker Zdunich along with versatile catcher, infielder and outfielder Logan Grant.
It’s the second consecutive All-Star nod for Crowson, a fourth-year Dawg from Okotoks.
“I’m very blessed to have this opportunity and really thankful,” said Crowson. “Some of the biggest memories from last year, first at-bat going for a big home run and just getting a jam-shot single and then just meeting all of the guys and hanging out with all your teammates.”
The selections for the East Division and West Division rosters have been made!
— The WCBL (@wcbleague) July 11, 2024
Here are your 2024 #WCBL All-Star Game teams.
We're excited to see these players shine at the All-Star Game at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks on July 20th! pic.twitter.com/iJbPFsqL88
Crowson leads the team with six home runs and 32 RBI while hitting at a .353 clip and is enjoying his most productive season with the WCBL squad.
“I definitely think I’ve been swinging it well and playing some good defence and our team has a lot more in store,” Crowson said. “I would say my approach at the plate has changed since the spring and last summer, I’m trying to hit the ball a lot harder and sometimes that means more strikeouts, but I’m hitting the ball a lot harder this year and can drive in more runs.”
In addition to his on-field talent, Crowson has proved to be quite the recruiter.
He encouraged his hometown team to look a good look at Eiseman, who happens to be his college roommate at the Alabama-based Montevallo University.
“Those are the best recruiters, the players,” Pote said with a laugh. “Connor said, ‘Hey I’ve got a guy here’ and he explained it exactly what Barry is like. ‘He’ll fit in with the culture, he’s a great guy, great teammate, a left-handed hitter that can really help us out.’”
The Floridian has proven to be a reliable outfielder and clutch hitter who consistently has better at-bats the deeper a game goes, owning a .323 batting average and 22 RBI.
On the mound, Maloney has been a top starter with four wins, 26 strikeouts and 2.55 ERA.
“This year, he’s had some really tough matchups and been outstanding,” the coach added. “We couldn’t ask for anything more from him.”
Thompson, a hard-throwing late reliever, was also an all-star in 2023.
Tucker, a first-year Dawg from Newfoundland, has been a steadying presence out of the bullpen with 15 strikeouts over 19 appearances.
“He wants the ball every day, that’s the biggest thing with him,” Pote said.
Team West has earned bragging rights over the past two summers and don’t plan on seeing that balance of power shifting East.
“That’s very important,” Crowson said. “I think most people know the West is where it’s at.”
The mid-summer classic will again feature an appearance by Matt Stairs, the World Series champion and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame member renowned for his pinch-hitting prowess, along with autograph signings, fan-favourite mascots, family-friendly activities and post-game fireworks.
Stairs will also be holding a hitting clinic on July 19 at Seaman Stadium from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
On July 20, gates open at 3:30 p.m. with the Home Run Derby lifting off at 5 p.m. and the All-Star Game kicking off at 7 p.m.
For ticket information, contact the Dawgs office at 403-262-3294 and go to dawgsbaseball.ca.
