The head coach of the Okotoks Dawgs might want to consider a career with the Mounties when he hangs up his spikes.
With the addition of shortstop Trace Tam-Sing in mid-June, coach Brandon Newell proved just like the RCMP, he always gets his man.
“I have known Trace since he was a sophomore in high school (in Bellevue, Washington) when I was scouting for the Milwaukee Brewers,” Newell said. “So, I knew what we were getting. He can run, steal bases and hit for average. He’s got all the ability in the world.”
The 20-year-old Tam-Sing played just six games with the Washington State University Cougars in the spring.
His season was shortened due to a shoulder injury suffered against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
“I dove for a ball down in Mississippi and I popped my shoulder out and that is when I tore it,” said Tam-Sing, who will be a Junior with the Cougs next year. “So I have been DHing a little bit with the Dawgs because I had shoulder surgery about seven weeks ago.”
Tam-Sing played in the Cape Cod League last summer, which is considered one of the best college summer leagues in North America. However, because he had limited statistics with the Cougs in the spring, he didn’t go back to the Cape.
The Cod let one get away.
“They (WSU) wanted to keep me closer to home to keep an eye on me,” he said. “The Cape is known as a pitching league, but other than that I would say the ball here is the same calibre as the Cape.”
Tam-Sing has three home runs in 11 games with the Dawgs with a .289 batting average and nine RBI He made a strong Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) debut by hitting a home run in just his second at bat in the league.
“My second at bat I hit an opposite field home run and that was pretty sweet,” Tam-Sing said.
The shortstop was heavily recruited out of Newport High School in Bellevue and was a 22nd round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2010.
He chose WSU and the small town of Pullman, which he said is similar to Okotoks.
“The University of Washington also recruited me, but WSU gave me a good scholarship and it allowed me to be away from home but its just across the state, so my parents can come to the games,” Tam-Sing said. “I love it. Pullman is basically like Okotoks. It’s a small town.”
He’s content with the fact he will be the designated hitter as well as playing shortstop in Okotoks.
“I am perfectly fine with how much I have played so far,” Tam-Sing said. “Just knowing what I can and I can’t do with my arm wise it is nice to get a break to relieve some pressure, because it has been hurting a little bit.
“I’m just happy to be in the game honestly.”
Okotoks came highly recommended by WSU teammate and current Dawgs southpaw Bret DeRooy, who played in town two years ago.
“I have known DeRooy for a long-time and it was great to have him here,” Tam-Sing said. “But I have got to know all the guys on the team and they are great.
“I didn’t know what to expect and Brett told me all about Okotoks. I love it. It’s such a laid back town.”
Newell, a graduate of WSU’s rival the University of Washington Huskies, has no problem taking players from the Cougs.
First basemen Stetson Olson is also from WSU.
“I have known (Cougar coach) Donnie Marbut since he coached at Edmonds and he asked me if we had a spot for Trace,” Newell said.
He said the Dawgs have a solid reputation with American coaches and the Dawgs take care to not burn out arms and play injured players in their quest to win the WMBL title.
