The Okotoks Dawgs are well prepared as they head into their mid-term exams in the Western Major Baseball League season.
The Dawgs, who rattled off their 10th straight win with an 8-6 victory of the Lethbridge Bulls on Saturday, left for a six-game road-trip across southern Alberta and Saskatchewan.
However, they stumbled out of the gate, losing 9-7 to the Medicine Hat Mavericks in a battle for first-place in a game in which the mercury hit 35C for the opening pitch on Monday.
The Dawgs had a 7-1 lead in the fifth inning but were unable to hold on.
Alex Graham took the loss in relief dropping his record to 3-1.
Stetson Olson went 2 for 4 for the Dawgs and drove in three runs.
The Mavericks took sole possession of first place in the West Division with the win boasting a record of 21-8. The Dawgs are one game back at 19-8.
The Dawgs will now head east to take on the Regina Red Sox on July 11-12 in the Queen City, in what will be a rematch of the 2011 Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) final. The Red Sox currently have the best record in the WMBL at 22-6. They also boast the league’s top pitcher in righty Daniel Jones.
Dawgs head coach Brandon Newell said the fact his team lost to the Sox in the final last year doesn’t concern him or the team.
“We are both two totally different teams from last year,” Newell said. “We know they are really good and they have great pitching. I’m looking forward to playing them… This road trip is going to be a real good test for us. It will be an indication of where we are at.”
The Sox’s Jones has posted Sandy Koufax-like numbers. He leads the league in games won with six; strikeouts, 46; and earned run average, 0.60.
“I hope we do get to face him,” Newell said. “I would much rather see him now, rather than face him for the first-time in the playoffs.”
One Dawg who is definitely hoping to face Jones is third baseman John Apostolo.
Jones and Apostolo are teammates at Brewton-Parker College in Georgia.
“He can throw in the 90s and can locate his pitches,” Apostolo said. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders and can get out of situations.”
However, Apostolo feels he can hit his college teammate.
“We know each other pretty well,” he said with a smile. “We made a little deal that he would throw a first-pitch fastball to see if I could hit it.”
He said regardless of whom the Sox throw at them, the Dawgs will be ready.
“We are hot right now,” he said.
After taking on the Sox, the Dawgs will play a pair of games against the Miller Express in Moose Jaw on July 13-14 and then the Bulls in Lethbridge on July 15.
“Moose Jaw is good team even though their record doesn’t indicate it,” Newell said. “They lead the league in home runs.”
Moose Jaw has a WMBL high 26 home runs, five clear of the Weyburn Beavers and nine more than the Dawgs.
Newell has his pitching set up for the road trip.
Dawgs’ ace southpaw Bret DeRooy started against Medicine Hat on July 9. Ryan Rogers and Connor Russell will be on the bump for the two games against Regina.
The Dawgs will be back home to take on the Edmonton Prospects on July 16 at Seaman Stadium at 7 p.m. They then go to Saskatchewan before returning to Okotoks to play the Weyburn Beavers on July 21 at 7 p.m. The Dawgs’ annual Wear Pink to the Park Day fundraiser for breast cancer research is July 22 at 2 p.m.
