The first round of the 2024 WCBL playoffs between the Okotoks Dawgs and Lethbridge Bulls wasn't for the faint of heart.
It took 13 innings to find a winner, but the Dawgs found a way after Ricky Sanchez made a game-winning bunt to take the best-of-three series in three games.
Brock Townsend got the start on the mound in the defensive duel. He would pitch six and one-third innings with three strikeouts in the process. Cade Herrmann, Gavin Wuschke, and Ashton Luera came into the game as relievers.
Luera got the win in an absolute stellar performance at the mound. Luera pitched for five and one-third innings, only allowing two hits, all while punching out nine of the Bulls batters for strikeouts. Like he has done all year, Luera comes up clutch in the biggest moments.
Lethbridge opened the scoring in the game with a run at the top of the first, and the Dawgs answered back with two runs of their own at the bottom of the inning.
Logan Grant picked up two RBIs, hitting a single that got Jarrett Burney and Sanchez across home plate.
Both teams wouldn't get a run in until the seventh inning, and both put on a strong defensive showing. Burney hit a single at the bottom of the seventh, getting Brendan "Mr. August" Luther in for the run for a 3-2 lead in the ball game.
The Bulls tied the game back up at the top of the eighth, keeping the game tight.
Lou Anderson came up huge at the bottom of the 13th inning, hitting a double with the first at-bat of the inning. Leo Griffin would come in as a pinch-runner for Anderson. Landon Kauffman would advance Griffin to third on a putout.
The Bulls would then intentionally walk Luther as they know he is a dangerous at-bat with a man on third. Sanchez was up next and made no mistake in bunting the ball and getting Griffin in for the series-winning run.
The @Okotoks_Dawgs take game three and will face the Sylvan Lake Gulls on Sunday. @rickysanchezc58 wins it with a bunt! @wcbleague pic.twitter.com/P5FUJWrZB2
— Scott Savard (@Scavard) August 10, 2024
The Dawgs will now have Saturday off before visiting Sylvan Lake for game one of the West Division Finals against the Gulls on Sunday. They will then head back to Okotoks for game two of the best-of-three series on Monday.
The Saskatoon Berries and the Moose Jaw Miller Express face off in the East Division Final and will face the winner of the Dawgs and Gulls series.