By Jonathan Hodgson

The Okotoks Dawgs are very pleased to announce the team award winners for the 2018 Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) season. The Dawgs are pleased to also announce preliminary details for the 12^th Annual Dawgs Awards Dinner and Fundraiser.

Dawgs fans were witness to many outstanding performances in 2018; a season that saw the Dawgs win 35 games for a second consecutive season. The team’s 2018 award recipients are as follows:

MVP: Eddie Sanchez

Pitcher of the Year: Craig Smith

True Grit Award: Richard Mascarenas

Rookie of the Year: William Hollis 

Award recipients will be recognized at the 12^th Annual Dawgs Awards Dinner and Fundraiser, which will take place on Saturday, February 2 at the Foothills Centennial Centre.

The event will begin with happy hour at 6:00pm with dinner starting at 7:00pm.  2018 award winners will be recognized, in addition to the induction of the 2019 class of the Dawgs Hall of Fame.

Announcement of the 2019 induction class of the Dawgs Hall of Fame will take place in the near future. 

Tickets are $125 each and are now available for purchase by calling the Dawgs office at 403-262-3294.

2018 Okotoks Dawgs MVP: Eddie Sanchez

A heart and soul member of the club, Eddie Sanchez returned to Okotoks for his second season with the Dawgs in 2018, after completing his senior season at the University of Central Arkansas (NCAA Div. 1; Southland Conference).

Sanchez brought a contagious passion to the field and played the game with an all-out effort every game.

A sparkplug at the top of the Dawgs batting order, Sanchez hit .313 with 20 RBIs in 44 games in 2018.  Equally important was his contributions with the glove, steadying the Dawgs middle infield, while thrilling fans with numerous highlight plays over the course of the season.

Sanchez has been in Dawgs colors since he moved to Okotoks from his native Mexico City, Mexico at age 14 to play in the Dawgs Academy.  Upon graduating from the Academy in 2014, his collegiate career consisted of two years at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, followed by two at Central Arkansas.

Sanchez patrolled the middle infield with True Grit Award recipient Richard Mascarenas, and on July 29, played all nine defensive positions in his final regular season game at Seaman Stadium.

Congratulations to Eddie Sanchez on an outstanding season and career, culminating in an extremely fitting and deserving 2018 Dawgs MVP award.

Watch for features on each award recipient in the coming weeks.