Friday August 04, 2017

Photo cred: Amanda Fewer

The (2-1) Okotoks Dawgs take on the (1-2) Edmonton Prospects in game four of the WMBL playoffs, looking to book a ticket to the next round. First pitch flies at 7:05pm.

TO RECAP
The Dawgs took a 2-1 series lead in blowout fashion last night, pouring on the offence in an 11-1 rout of the Prospects at RE/MAX Field. Rookie Graham Brunner was tremendous on the mound, retiring the first 13 batters he faced while carrying a no-hitter through 5.2 innings of work. The Dawgs Academy product kept everything around the plate, walking just one over six complete frames. He struckout two in the shutout, earning his first collegiate postseason win. Okotoks opened the floodgates with a five-run fourth highlighted by a Joel Brophy home run. His third of the year went just about 360-feet in the biggest ballpark in the WMBL. Cameron Campbell followed that up with a terrific day at the plate, notching three hits and driving in two. In the end, seven of the nine starters recorded at least one hit.

GETTING IT DONE
Okotoks starters have had success thus far while working deep into ballgames. Coming into the postseason, the coaching staff stressed the importance of getting the job done on the mound. So far, Anthony Balderas, Justin Vernia and Graham Brunner have tossed a combined 20 innings, allowing just four earned runs. Command has been a big factor in their efficiency, issuing four free passes.

MAKING A STATEMENT
The Dawgs 10-run blowout was the largest margin of victory in the 2017 playoffs so far. The win just came a day after Okotoks dropped a low-scoring, 2-1 affair.

KNOW YOUR STARTER
Jack Rupe takes the ball as the Dawgs try to close out the series. Over the course of the campaign, the first-year Dawg earned a 2-1 record, coupled with an ERA of 3.19. Although the UC San Diego Triton has yet to take on the Prospects, he rolled into the playoffs red-hot, torching the Fort McMurray Giants for seven innings of one-run baseball.

PLAYOFF TICKETS
Tickets are available! All nine-game playoff packages will be $180. Individual playoff tickets are now available online for the first two games of the opening series, August 1 and 2 against the Edmonton Prospects. Playoff patio bookings are available, please call Angie Cox at 403 262 3294 for details.

PLAYOFF LEADERS
Greg Cullen (R): 4-8, 4 R, .600 AVG

Ryan Humeniuk: 3-8, 2 R, .375 AVG

Cameron Campbell (R): 4-11, 2 R, 2B, 4 RBI .364 AVG

ON DECK
With a loss, Okotoks will take on the Prospects at home tomorrow, August 5. With a victory, they will play the winner between the Medicine Hat Mavericks and Lethbridge Bulls, August 6.