The table is set for the Dawgs to make a run at their 7th WCBL Championship title, their 3rd in the last four seasons, as they take on the Medicine Hat Mavericks in the 2023 WCBL Championship from August 15 - 17.
The Dawgs finished 1st in the WCBL regular season with a record of 40-16 and have swept the first two rounds of the playoffs against the Fort McMurray Giants & Sylvan Lake Gulls. Heading into the championship series, the Dawgs roster features many of the players who were part of the championship teams in 2019 & 2022, with some key players getting hot at the right time.
Brendan Luther (Bellevue University, NE) has been locked in at the plate with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs while batting .444. Trent Lenihan (UBC) is batting .462 with 6 hits including 1 double and 3 RBI with 3 runs scored. Eric Machej (Dawgs Academy, Illinois State University commit) has been playing great defensively while contributing at the plate with 3 doubles and 3 runs scored with an impressive .571 batting average.
The Dawgs pitching staff has been solid all year long and they have stepped it up a notch in the post-season. Graham Brunner (Emporia State University, KS) anchors the staff- in game 1 vs Fort McMurray Brunner pitched 6 scoreless innings with 2 BB and 5 Ks. Cade Herrmann (Western Illinois University, IL), Dustin Schorie (Bellevue University, NE), Seth Thompson (Chandler-Gilbert CC, AZ) have been absolutely lights out coming out of the backend of the bullpen. Gavin Wuschke (Okanagan College, BC), Ryan McFarland (Campbellsville University, KY) & Brock Townsend (Bellevue University, NE) round out the starting rotation for the Dawgs.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks have really turned it on during the second half of the season, finishing 2nd in the East with a record of 30-26 during the regular season. In their first round of the playoffs, they made light work of the Regina Red Sox, sweeping the series in two games. In the East Division finals, they knocked off the 1st place Moose Jaw Miller Express, taking the best of 3 series to earn their spot in the WCBL Championship.
The Mavericks’ bats have been hot so far this post season, led by Tyler Vanneste- batting .364 with 3 doubles, 1 home run & 9 RBI. Other Mavs swinging the bat well are Dominic VanDoorne- batting .421 with 4 doubles, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored, and Brody Gardner- batting .304 with 7 hits including 1 home run, 2 RBI and 5 runs scored.
Dawgs Manager, Lou Pote, had this to say heading into the championship series:
“We are excited that we have earned the opportunity to defend our title. Our staff really likes how our guys are the playing the game right now. That being said, Medicine Hat is playing really well and they have been one of the best teams for the last month, we really got our work cut out for us.”
The WCBL Championship kicks off this Tuesday, August 15th, at Seaman Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm. The Dawgs will head to Medicine Hat for game two Wednesday, August 16th, at Athletic Park. First pitch at 7:05 pm. In the event the series is tied after the first two games, the third and deciding game will be Thursday, August 17th at Seaman Stadium.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.tickets.dawgsbaseball.ca. Patio tables are also available, to book a patio table, call the Dawgs ticket office at 403-262-3294.
GO DAWGS!
