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1 Thru 9: Tony Olson

His favourite baseball memory was eliminating the Okotoks Dawgs from the 2017 Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) playoffs. During Game 5 of that first-round elimination game, Tony Olson led all batters with three hits and two runs batted in as the Edmonton Prospects emerged victorious in a 3-1 contest.

Olson and his Edmonton teammates are once again looking to play spoiler as they face the Medicine Hat Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Division final tonight.

We caught up with the Sherwood Park, Alberta product in advance of tonight’s winner-take-all game at Athletic Park in Medicine Hat. Here’s what Olson said when he was presented with our “1 Thru 9” series of questions:

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1 Thru 9: Reed Odland

Reed Odland made the most of his opportunities in the Medicine Hat Mavericks lineup this season.

As back-up to all-star Colton Wright, Odland put up solid numbers for the deep Mavs squad.

The 18-year-old recently answered the call for 1 Thru 9.

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1 Thru 9: Mat Brisson

The rivalry between the Edmonton Prospects and Okotoks Dawgs once again hit a fever pitch in the playoffs.

The Prospects have taken full advantage of the “underdog” tag and one player happy to indulge on social media was Mat Brisson.

The right-hander sat down earlier this season to dish on everything for “1 Thru 9.”

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1 Thru 9: Danny Donnelly

It’s been quite the journey for Okotoks Dawgs’ outfielder Danny Donnelly.

Donnelly – who played 32 games for the Dawgs this season, recording two home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs over 61 regular season at bats – grew up in Okotoks. He patrolled the berm in left field as a fan, along with his father Pat, while his mother Marlene served as the Dawgs’ academic advisor.

He would later hustle around the infield as a bat boy for his beloved hometown team and join the Dawgs Academy.

He recently made time for our “1 Thru 9” series and here’s what the right-handed batter had to say.

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Holy Schmidt! Did That Just Happen?

Well, you can’t say he didn’t warn you.

At the Okotoks Dawgs media day event, which is an opportunity for reporters to meet the team’s players and coaching staff prior to the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) season, head coach Mitch Schmidt was asked about his “Big Bear” nickname.

He described himself as “very easy going” and a guy who gets along with everybody. Then he followed that description up with this comment: “They say that I’m in hibernation, but when I come out of hibernation, the Big Bear comes out.”

The Big Bear definitely came out …

1 Thru 9: Kaleb Warden

It’s safe to say that Kaleb Warden – the first baseman for the Lethbridge Bulls – has made an impression on the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL).

During 46 games, the 6-foot-2 Texan finished the regular season at third in league batting average (.369), eighth in RBI (38), and sixth in runs (42). The man they call “The Warden” had such an impressive campaign that he was named the WMBL Rookie of the Year and a first-team all star.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello product recently made time for us and our nine questions that make up our “1 Thru 9” series.