Let the Big Dawg Eat

“You win it.”

Visitors to Seaman Stadium may have become familiar with this phrase over the last two summers. Those seated close enough to the home dugout could hear Mitch Schmidt, the head coach of the Okotoks Dawgs, bark this motto to his charges dozens of times each game.

The spirited slogan was often used as encouragement to achieve a seemingly small task – you win an at bat, you win by stealing a bag on the base paths, you win by getting a bunt down, you win by inducing a ground ball, you win by punching through a third strike, you win by making a routine defensive play in the field.

After piling up all those little victories over the course of the 2019 Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) season, the Dawgs claimed the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy with an 8-6 victory over the Regina Red Sox on Aug. 16th and will enter next year as the defending champions.

7th Inning Stretch: Flynn Ridley

Coming off of a Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) title win, Flynn Ridley set his sights on a summer season in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL).

When it came time for the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) pitcher to find a team to play for, another championship squad – the Medicine Hat Mavericks – seemed like a perfect fit.

In his first season in the WCBL, the right-handed reliever from Vancouver has delivered an effective campaign thus far. The 18-year-old has a 3-1 record, two saves, a 2.49 earned run average (ERA) and 17 strikeouts through 21.2 innings pitched.

We spoke with the 6-foot-4 mound manager as part of our 7th Inning Stretch series.

7th Inning Stretch: Jaden Griffin

One of the harsh realities of any baseball season is that players may not get a chance to finish the campaign and help their teammates when they need them most.

For pitchers at the Major League Baseball (MLB) level, they may have innings limits or be forced to sit out due to injury.

Such is the case for lefty hurler Jaden Griffin, who recently wrapped up his season with the Lethbridge Bulls. He is the subject of our most recent 7th Inning Stretch feature.

7th Inning Stretch: Ashton Roy

They say that home is where the heart is.

As it turns out, Ontario’s Ashton Roy is feeling pretty good about his second home here in Alberta.

He moved here in 2015 and talks to us in our latest 7th Inning Stretch about the move, this province and the “Major League” character he channels in the clubhouse.

7th Inning Stretch: McCoy Pearce

First baseman McCoy Pearce is doing his part to put the “Bomb” in “Bombers” this season.

Making his way to Brooks by way of Kamloops, Kelowna and – more recently – McPherson College in Kansas, the 6-foot-3 batsman has been a consistent performer at the plate through 22 Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) games, leading the team in runs batted in (RBI) with 24, runs (18), hits (35), and home runs (6).

Pearce was recruited to Brooks by Kyle MacKinnon – the head coach for the Bombers and the hitting coach for the McPherson College Bulldogs – along with several of his college teammates.