By IAN WILSON
A fiery competitor and a clutch member of the Okotoks Dawgs bullpen has joined the ranks of professional baseball.
Ashton Luera made his pro debut with the Quebec Capitales of the Frontier League on Canada Day against the Schaumburg Bombers in Illinois. The Albuquerque, New Mexico product entered the July 1st matchup in the seventh inning and despite giving up two walks and a three-run homer, he recorded his first pro strikeout during the 28-pitch appearance. The Capitales picked up an 18-3 victory, so the damage done by the long ball was negligible.
The Dawgs will miss the 6-foot tall righthander, who impressed the Seaman Stadium faithful when he arrived in Okotoks in 2024. Luera logged 24.1 innings over 25 regular season games that summer and the results were eye-popping: 47 strikeouts, six saves and a 1.48 earned run average (ERA).
Wearing No. 34, Luera was leaned on even more in the postseason when the Dawgs marched to their third consecutive Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) championship.
The Oklahoma Wesleyan University alum played a crucial role in helping the Dawgs advance past the Lethbridge Bulls during the opening round of the 2024 playoffs. In a winner-take-all third game of the series, Luera delivered 5.1 innings of relief pitching that extended into extra innings. He struck out nine batters and allowed no runs, which set the stage for middle infielder Ricardo Sanchez to walk-off the Bulls with a bunt RBI in the bottom of the 13th inning.
Luera continued to baffle batters and he registered three postseason saves, including one against each playoff opponent the Dawgs faced, finishing with 18 strikeouts over 10 innings of work.
The reliever was hampered by injuries during the 2025 WCBL regular season. In two innings over two games, Luera managed three strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA.
This season, the 23-year-old made eight appearances with the Dawgs and racked up 17 Ks over 9.2 innings. He finished his time in Okotoks this year with one win and a 1.86 ERA.
“The only downside to signing pro is leaving the Dawgs. It’s been one of my favourite experiences in baseball and leaving that kinda sucks,” said Luera.
“It’s meant the world to me.”
Jeff Duda – the pitching coordinator with the Dawgs and a three-time league champion with Quebec City – reached out to the Capitales to see if there might be a spot for Luera on their roster.
Patrick Scalabrini, the manager of the Capitales, then contacted Luera and the two sides reached a deal.
“I’m super excited. I’ve never been to Quebec, so it should be fun,” said Luera.
The Capitales are the defending Frontier League champs, having won four straight titles.
They’re also familiar with WCBL talent.
Riley MacDonald, the catcher and third baseman with the Brooks Bombers who set the single-season WCBL record for homers with 20 in 2018, signed on with the Capitales at the end of that season.
Infielder Jonah Weisner, who played for the Bombers in 2022 before winning WCBL MVP honours with the Sylvan Lake Gulls in 2023, also inked a deal with Quebec City.
