The Okotoks Dawgs put on a show for the fans tonight, handling the Bombers 22-2 in what felt like a Dawgs' All-Star game.
Before the game started the Dawgs organization brought the billet families of the players onto the field for a feel-good moment to start Fan Appreciation Night.
Greg Ross got the win after starting on the mound and playing three full innings with two strikeouts. The relief pitchers were Ryan McFarland, Easton Corey, Ricky Sanchez, and Connor Crowson. Your eyes are not deceiving you, Sanchez and Crowson were pitchers for tonight's game.
Sanchez came in to pitch at the top of the eighth, striking out two batters and not allowing a single hit.
Ricky Sanchez on the mound. Two strikeouts and no hits during the inning. @Okotoks_Dawgs giving the fans a very special experience tonight! @wcbleague pic.twitter.com/zyiTFml1fK
— Scott Savard (@Scavard) August 4, 2024
Crowson came in to close the game and the "Crow Show" was on. Crowson didn't allow a single hit, got a strikeout while on the mound, and closed the game at the top of the ninth.
Connor Crowson closes out the game at the top ninth inning. The @Okotoks_Dawgs sent the fans home happy on Fan Appreciation Night! @wcbleague pic.twitter.com/Sf3FOKPOQc
— Scott Savard (@Scavard) August 4, 2024
Graham Brunner, Chase Tucker, and Brock Townsend switched roles and took a swing at bat. Brunner was the first of the pitchers to be at bat. He would get contact and have some flare with a bat flip. Tucker got a single and eventually got in for a run. Townsend got contact but got put out at first. The fans were getting more than they could ever ask for.
Veteran pitcher for @Okotoks_Dawgs Graham Brunner stepped up to bat today against the Bombers. @wcbleague pic.twitter.com/map9tV5tAw
— Scott Savard (@Scavard) August 4, 2024
The Bombers did open the scoring in the game getting their only runs at the top of the first. The Dawgs answered back with seven runs at the bottom of the inning.
Brendan Luther aka "Mr. August" got the first run on the board for the Dawgs after bases were loaded and Tucker Zdunich earned a walk. Nash "Bash" Crowell would earn a walk with the next at-bat tying the game up at 2-2 and getting Aidan Rose in for a run.
Caleb Lumbard added two RBIs when he hit a double, getting both Jarrett Burney and Zdunich in for runs. Spencer Sullivan then crushed the ball hitting a home run, scoring Lumbard and Crowell in for runs.
The Dawgs replicated their first inning with another seven runs in the bottom of the second. Rose got the first run on a single from Crowell. Landon Kauffman got his first RBI of the night after hitting a single and getting Burney across home plate.
Alejandro Cazorla got the next run thanks to a single from Lumbard. Sullivan picked up two more RBIs on the night when he hit a single, getting Kauffman and Crowell in for runs. Luther picked up the last RBI in the inning, hitting a single and getting Lumbard in for a run.
Okotoks picked up another three runs at the bottom of the third. Kauffman smashed a three-run home run getting Crowell and Cazorla across home plate.
The Dawgs added two runs at the bottom of the fourth to make it a 19-2 ball game. Crowell would be the next Dawg to get a dinger after crushing the ball and getting Cazorla in for the two-run home run.
Logan Grant would add to the score at the bottom of the seventh hitting a double and getting Tucker in for the run. Jason Arriola would add a double of his own, picking up two RBIs while getting Grant and Sullivan across home plate.
Okotoks will play their final home game of the 2024 WCBL season tomorrow afternoon when they host the Lethbridge Bulls. Tomorrow's game could be an early preview of a possible first-round matchup in the 2024 WCBL playoffs with the Dawgs and Bulls most likely to face each other. Game time is scheduled for 2:05.