When opportunity knocks, don’t walk to answer the door, run.
Okotoks Dawgs rookie first baseman Stetson Olson is doing just that.
“I was definitely just looking for a chance to come play,” Olson said. “I’m behind a really good guy who was drafted in the (seventh) round over at Washington State and I was just ready to get out here and play everyday.”
Opportunities were hard to come by at the Pac-12 school for Olson, who was behind Seattle Mariners prospect Taylor Ard on the Washington State Cougars’ depth chart.
The state of affairs couldn’t be more divergent in Okotoks.
Olson, a Renton, Washington native, is the everyday first baseman for the Dawgs and hitting in the heart of the Western Major League Baseball (WMBL) team’s lineup.
Through 10 games, Olson is third with nine runs batted in to go with a solid .300 batting average. He attributes his early success to getting the repetitions he needs at the plate.
“Just getting that everyday playing time, those everyday at-bats,” Olson said. “You’ve got to get into a rhythm and I’m finally starting to get into that rhythm a little bit.”
Dawgs manager Brandon Newell said Olson has proven a tough out for WMBL opposition thus far.
“We recruited him to be a run-producer for us and in order to find out if that’s what he’s going to be you’ve got to put him in there,” Newell said. “He’s a tough matchup for guys because he’s pretty patient at the plate and he’s got power from both sides.”
Olson brings versatility to the table as he can play at first base as well as at the hot corner and is a switch-hitter.
“I would honestly have to say I have equal power and confidence from both sides of the plate,” Olson said. “I can pull the ball a little bit better left-handed than right-handed and kind of stay on it better.”
His pull power was never more obvious as during the Dawgs’ home opener in which he turned on a pitch for a no-doubt shot to right field to register the first home run of the season for Okotoks in his first game with the franchise.
“That’s one of the farthest balls I think I’ve ever hit, to be honest,” Olson said with a smile of his shot into a stiff wind. “I hit it right on a tee, that was a little ridiculous and I hope these fans don’t expect that all the time from me.”
At first, Olson prides himself on not letting balls get behind the bag.
“I like to be that door man, balls don’t get by me,” he said. “I’m going to stay in front, I’m going to chest it up, I’m going to block it no matter what.”
Newell was familiar with Olson as a high school ball player from his scouting days with the Milwaukee Brewers.
“The relationship I have with coach (Donnie) Marbut at Washington State is one where that he knows what kind of players that I want up here and what kind of players will have success,” Newell said.
“Stetson fits that bill, he’s a very quiet, confident kid who plays hard everyday.”
Olson has made quite an early impression on his manager.
“He’s a big, physical, switch hitter who wants to play everyday,” Newell said. “He’s in the weight room everyday before the game… I don’t expect anything else other than very good things from him all summer.”
Olson is a sharp mind away from the field too. He was an honour roll student through all four years at Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington with a grade point average of 3.6 and scholar athlete award to boot. He’s maintained his studying habits at the post-secondary level.
“I was actually accepted into the sports management program as a Sophomore over there and generally it’s just Juniors that are accepted,” Olson said.
The 19-year-old is hoping to have a career based around the game he loves.
“I would like to work in the main offices of an organization whether it would be Seattle’s pro team. I’d love to be a college coach too,” he said.
Olson had never been to Canada before, despite a Seattle-area address just a few hours from the British Columbia border, prior to arriving in Okotoks.
The rainy weather is something the Washington native is used to, and could do without, but the same can’t be said for the level of fandom he’s witnessed in Big Rock country.
“The fan base is unbelievable, I’ve never played in front of an atmosphere like that,” Olson said. “It’s also nice that the fans are gentlemen. They don’t heckle too bad.”
“Combining the fieldhouse and the stadium, even in Seattle there’s nothing like this,” he said. “It’s the greatest package I’ve ever played with.”
Dawgs finding winning ways
Turns out the Dawgs don’t like the sight of .500 baseball.
After suffering a 14-2 defeat to the Medicine Hat Mavericks, June 14 at Seaman Stadium, the Dawgs have rebounded for a three-game winning streak to improve their record to 8-5. Okotoks’ trip to Edmonton proved fruitful as they swept the two-game set with the Prospects, 8-4 on June 15 and 11-4 on June 16.
The Dawgs returned home on June 17 and saved their best performance of the season for Father’s Day in front of a sellout crowd at Seaman Stadium. The Dawgs trounced the Mavericks by a 14-2 margin, led by a seven inning performance from starter Danny Britton-Foster and five runs batted in from outfielder Austin Voros. The Dawgs are off until June 21 when they renew their rivalry with the Mavericks with opening pitch at 7 p.m. at Seaman Stadium. For more information go to www.dawgsbaseball.ca
