July 27, 2024

By Oakley Matthewson

Okotoks Dawgs

Saskatoon, Sask. - The Okotoks Dawgs defeated the Saskatoon Berries 5-2 in front of 2,154 fans at Cairns Field on Saturday night in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

With the win, the Dawgs improve to 35-13 on the season. They sit in second place in the Western Canadian Baseball League West Division standings, a game-and-a-half behind the Sylvan Lake Gulls.

The Dawgs’ lineup came out hot in the first inning, scoring four of their five runs. Nash Crowell (Yarmouth, N.S.), Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.), and Tucker Zdunich (High River, Alta.) each had an RBI in the first-inning rally.

Alejandro Cazorla (Okotoks, Alta.) added two hits for the Dawgs, including a home run in the eighth.

Jarrett Burney (Reinhardt University) also extended his hitting streak to seven games with two hits.

On the mound, Greg Ross (Sarnia, Ont.) got the start and tossed six strong innings, allowing only two runs, while striking out six.

Cade Herrmann (Bellevue University) and Aaron Hammer (Campbellsville University) then threw scoreless innings in relief before Ashton Luera (Oklahoma Wesleyan University) struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save.

The Dawgs will take on the Berries at Cairns Field again on Sunday before they return to Seaman Stadium on Tuesday to battle the Lethbridge Bulls.