The 2024 WCBL Finals start with a Dawgs 7-4 victory over the Moose Jaw Miller Express in game one of the best-of-three series.
Seaman Stadium hosted Thursday's game which saw Calgary Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska throwing the ceremonial first pitch to open up the championship final.
Before the game, the Dawgs announced that several players had family in attendance. Jarrett Burney, Cade Herrmann, Caleb Lumbard, and Logan Grant were some players mentioned to have brought family to the game.
Garrett Maloney took the start on the mound for the Dawgs, pitching two and two-thirds innings and striking out four of the Miller Express batters. Aaron Hammer, Zane Morrison, Gavin Wuschke, Cade Herrmann, and Ashton Luera came into the game as relievers.
Morrison put up a stellar performance, pitching in two full innings, not allowing a single hit or walk, and striking out four of Moose Jaw's batters. Hammer and Herrmann didn't allow a run during the game keeping the 0.00 era for both players.
Luera came in to close the game at the top of the ninth and continued to shine as he struck out two Miller Express players to finish game one.
Ashton Luera closing it out for the @Okotoks_Dawgs during game one of the @wcbleague Finals at Seaman Stadium. pic.twitter.com/AfYSG2hhXd
— Scott Savard (@Scavard) August 16, 2024
The Dawgs opened the scoring with six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lumbard got the game's first run after Grant hit a double. Aidan Rose would hit a double of his own shortly after, getting Connor Crowson and Grant in across home plate.
"Mr. August" Brendan Luther would score Alejandro Cazorla in for the 4-0 lead. Rose added the fifth run of the evening while Ricky Sanchez was up to bat. Tucker Zdunich added the final run of the inning after sliding home on a wild pitch.
The Miller Express cut the Dawgs' lead to just two runs after getting four runs at the top of the third. Okotoks would add another run at the bottom of the seventh with Grant getting across home plate thanks to a single to left field by Rose. That would be the third RBI for Rose on the night.
The Dawgs hopped on the bus shortly after the game as they headed to Moose Jaw to play game two on Friday at 7:05 pm.
If the Okotoks squad wins, they will be crowned as three-peat champions, whereas if the Miller Express wins, both teams will come back to Okotoks on Saturday in a winner-take-all-game three.