The Okotoks Dawgs 18U Black team has wrapped up a historic season.
The season ended with a 60-5-1 record against non-JUCO teams and six elite tournament championships.
The group featured 24 college commits, including 9 NCAA Division I signees.
This year saw a 100 per cent graduation rate in college placements across the Dawgs Academy, and more than $3 million in scholarships awarded to athletes.
In the program, there were four MLB Draft selections, including Dawgs alumni Tim Piasentin (5th round, Toronto Blue Jays), Canon Reeder (18th round, Pittsburgh Pirates), Tyrelle Chadwick (18th round, Colorado Rockies), and Max Poirier (NDFA, Kansas City Royals).
The 18U Red and White teams also had strong seasons, combining for a 76-50 record with multiple tournament finals and individual player development throughout the entire season.
There are 25 coaches in the Academy helping set the athletes up for success, with collegiate or professional playing experience, including five active MLB Associate scouts, former Major Leaguers, and World Series champions.
Dawgs Academy athletes receive mentoring from the summer collegiate Dawgs and coaching staff over the season, with current minor league players returning to mentor and train athletes.
Some players who have returned as mentors include Gavin Logan of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Matt Wilkinson of the Cleveland Guardians, Eric Hartman of the Atlanta Braves, Tristan Peters of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Matt Lloyd of the St. Louis Cardinals.
“This unmatched access to high-level instruction and mentorship ensures that every Dawgs player is developed to their full potential and highly prepared for the next level, be that college or professional baseball,” an Okotoks Dawgs Academy media release said.
The Dawgs are not slowing down, with the 15U Black team in pursuit of a fourth provincial championship, and the 13U Black squad chasing another provincial championship.
Dawgs 13U Red and 15U Red both had strong performances at their provincial championships, with the Dawgs 14U Black capping off their season with a tournament championship at the PNW 14U World Series.
Meanwhile, the college Dawgs are holding first place in the WCBL West Division, with eyes on a fourth championship.
At the beginning of the season, the Dawgs unveiled facility upgrades, including tripling the size of the weight room, a hitting and pitching lab, five indoor hitting cages, an additional three pitching lanes, and a “Mind Gym” to enhance mental performance training.
“These enhancements ensure the Dawgs remain Canada’s premier youth academy and development program offering student-athletes' world-class opportunities to grow on and off the field,” the release said.