The Okotoks Dawgs baseball program began in the mid-1990s with an elite youth travel team in Calgary, Alberta. Limited recreational baseball development programs prompted the team’s founders to create an independent youth program modeled after top US travel teams.

The Dawgs aimed to provide dedicated players with competitive coaching and a challenging schedule, averaging 80 to 90 games per season against premier competition. This formula led to success, with every player on the original team earning a college baseball scholarship. Several players went on to have stellar minor league careers, and one even made it to the Major Leagues.

Beyond their athletic achievements, the Dawgs team included multiple college graduates, Academic All Americans, future businessmen, doctors, lawyers, accountants, and MBA’s. They converted their passion for baseball into success not only on the field but also in life.

The Dawgs have grown exponentially since their original travel team, but their vision, philosophy, and goals remain the same: to provide dedicated young athletes with coaching, competition, and facilities to maximize their potential, whether at the collegiate or professional level.

Their summer collegiate club, with attendance exceeding 4,000 fans per game, has consistently been ranked 3rd in North America with Seaman Stadium named the Best Ballpark in Summer Collegiate Baseball by Ballpark Digest.

The Dawgs currently hold the most WCBL championships in the league, with 8 titles since 2004, including two 3-peats.

Facilities

In 2006, due to disputes with a failed independent league franchise in Calgary, the Dawgs built state-of-the-art facilities in Okotoks, a town of 30,000 residents just 20 minutes south of Calgary. Local businessmen and philanthropists Don Seaman and Daryl K. (Doc Seaman) generously funded the project. On June 7, 2007, the Dawgs held their first Opening Night at Seaman Stadium, under a prophetic double rainbow, before sold-out crowds. That season marked the first of three consecutive WMBL Championships at their new home. The Dawgs have now won a record 7 WCBL Championships.

Seaman Stadium, the premier amateur baseball stadium in the country, offers full-service amenities including stadium and berm seating, concessions, clubhouses, multiple washrooms, a press box, video boards, lighting, merchandise, and patios. Recent upgrades have increased the facility’s cost to over $22 million.

In 2008, the Dawgs completed the Duvernay Fieldhouse, a year-round indoor training center with a turf infield, batting cages, clubhouses, cardio and weight training facilities, a video analysis room, coaches’ offices, and a lobby viewing area. This facility enabled year-round training and development for the Dawgs.

In 2011, with the Dawgs Academy’s growth, Tourmaline Field, a second full-sized stadium facility, was added. It features stadium and berm seating, turf infield and natural grass outfield, outdoor batting cages, bullpens, a press box, digital scoreboard, lighting, clubhouses, and washrooms.

In 2010, the Dawgs partnered with the Town of Okotoks to build Conrad Field, a unique baseball complex with batting cages, a digital scoreboard, and a “brown monster” in right field. It quickly became the premier “Bantam” facility in the province and country. Combined with Riverside Baseball Diamond, it’s the preferred site for regional and provincial championships.

Seaman Stadium Complex, the state-of-the-art facility, features two full-service minor league stadiums, two youth diamonds, multiple outdoor bullpens and batting cages, an indoor training center, and is situated in an MLB spring training-like facility. Dawgs players enjoy the best facilities in the country.

The Dawgs Academy has grown to include over 125 top youth players from Canada and abroad, comprising eight teams: three 18U travel teams, three 15U teams, and two 13U teams.

The Dawgs Academy has achieved unparalleled success, particularly with the Dawgs 18U Black team. Since 2017, they’ve won numerous championships, including the Perfect Game BCS National Championship, Perfect Game World Series, Palouse Summer Series, Buckeye Elite, and Pastime 18U Wood Bat National Championships. They’ve also consistently performed well at other tournaments, ranking 3rd in North America by Perfect Game.

Dawgs players have enjoyed individual success, with many drafted by Major League Baseball organizations and selected to Canada’s Junior National Team. Multiple players are chosen to their provincial select teams each season, and a record number of Dawgs Academy selections have been made by the Toronto Blue Jays and MLB scouts for the prestigious Canadian Futures Showcase. Additionally, 41 Team Canada Junior National Team selections have come from the Dawgs Academy.

Coaching

Professional coaching has always been a priority for the Dawgs. They now have the deepest and most experienced full-time coaching staff in amateur and youth baseball, starting with Head Coach Mitch Schmidt, Interim Head Coach Lou Pote, David Robb, Andy Peterson, and Joe Sergent.

Coach Schmidt joins the Dawgs from Bellevue University, where he’s Associate Head Coach. Bellevue is perennially ranked in the Top 25 in NAIA college baseball, has won multiple conference championships, and participated in numerous NAIA College World Series with a National Championship. Interim Head Coach, Lou Pote, played 21 years of professional baseball and won a World Series championship in 2002 with the Anaheim Angels. 2025 will be the third year heading up the Dawgs collegiate team as he looks to bring home a 4th straight WCBL championship. David Robb, a longtime Dawgs coach and mentor, joins from top-ranked JUCO, Mesa JC in Mesa, Arizona. Coach Robb has had success coaching at all levels, collegiate, professional, international, and youth. Andy Peterson joins the summer collegiate staff from Oregon State University, a top-ranked NCAA, Division 1, program. He earned a NCAA, Division 1, National Championship with the Beavers, was drafted by and played in the Seattle Mariners minor league system, and returned to Oregon State as a coach. Pitching Coach Joe Sergent joins from the Dawgs Academy, where he’s one of our outstanding pitching coaches. As a player, Coach Sergent starred at Lamar University in Texas, was drafted and played in the Florida Marlins organization, and finished his career earning Top Pitcher honors in Independent Baseball.

The Dawgs Academy boasts an exceptional staff of 12 full-time professional coaches, led by Head Coach Jeff Duda, General Manager Tyler Hollick, former Anaheim Angels pitcher Lou Pote and Bryan Donohue, with 15 years of college coaching experience. Other notable coaches include Assistant General Manager Val Helldobler, Bretton Gouthro, Aaron Ethier, Tyler Milton, Noah Geekie, Kevin Tanaka, Scott Smith and Fernando Fuentes. Dawgs players also benefit from a leading edge strength and conditioning program designed and supervised by Coach Gouthro and Conditioning Coach Brett Platts.

Dawgs players also benefit from mentorship by returning alumni, including big leaguers and former youth and collegiate players like Jim Henderson, Jordan Procyshen, Matt Lloyd, Gavin Logan, Tristan Peters, Eric Hartman, and Matt Wilkinson. The Dawgs have also produced three Major Leaguers: Jim Henderson, Alejo Lopez, and Andrew Kittredge.

To excel in baseball and develop your skills, consider:

* Top-notch facilities

* Expert coaching

* High competition

* College coach and scout exposure

BE A DAWG.