Skip to content

Dawgs dynamite infield back for another shot at banner

Baseball: Reigning league and playoff MVPs returned to Okotoks lineup last week

The left side of the infield and top of the lineup is back intact for the Okotoks Dawgs. 

Reigning Western Canadian Baseball League MVP Ricardo Sanchez and playoff MVP Brendan Luther returned to the Dawgs lineup last week following their collegiate seasons with designs on setting the table at the top of the batting order and chewing up any ground ball on the left side of the infield. 

“We loved that infield, we called it god’s infield last year,” Luther said. “We thought nothing would get by us and even the guys we’re bringing in now, we’re a defence-minded infield. 

“I think our pitchers love that and we just love making plays.” 

Along with the dynamic duo on the left side, the Dawgs also boast returning infielders Aidan Rose, Connor Crowson to go with the additions of first-baseman Trent Lenihan from U.B.C., Elijha Hammill from the University of Utah and academy alumni Dryden Howse and Nash Crowell. 

“As soon as I saw him I said, ‘Luth, we’re back, let’s run it back again, I miss playing with you,’” said Sanchez, third-baseman and two-hole hitter. “It’s a pretty good group of guys and it’s a family already.” 

After a stellar regular season at the leadoff spot, Luther levelled up in the playoffs with a .448 batting average en route to postseason MVP honours. Sanchez was a catalyst in all facets of the game, recognized for his defence, baserunning while hitting .342 with 39 RBI in 2022. 

On top of their exploits at the plate, the infield defence helped Okotoks post the best fielding percentage in the WCBL last season. 

“I don’t know how you don’t want to come back and play in Okotoks?” said Luther, the Dawgs’ shortstop. “It’s the best place to play, I was super pumped to get back here and get going with the guys, especially after last season. 

“I still want to keep elevating my game. The coaching staff here is good and they really know how to turn good players into elite players and that’s one of the big things when I came back, they can make me the player I want to be.” 

Sanchez coming off a second year with Barton Community College and headed to Lamar University in the fall is hoping to use the summer to find his consistency. 

“This summer it’s the same goal, run it back again,” said Sanchez, a Dawgs Academy alumnus. “This (college) season I didn’t put up any crazy numbers so I’m just trying to get back in my rhythm again, stop trying to do too much and just be who I am. 

“I’m not going to hit 11 home runs, 12 home runs, I’ve just got to hit line drives and that’s when the success is going to come.” 

Luther starred as a freshman at Bellevue University, hitting for a.361 average with 20 RBI, helping the Bears to a spot in the NAIA World Series. 

“We had a great year,” Luther said. “We came a little bit short in the World Series, but I was really proud of us there. We had one through 16 guys in our lineup just doing everything we needed to win. It didn’t end up the way we wanted, but still a really successful season.” 

He said joining the Dawgs partway into the season is a challenge, one offset by the familiarity and continuity across the diamond. 

“It’s a tough thing to get off the road and go immediately into a game, but that’s baseball, I love it,” he said. “We’re right there, we’ve got so many talented guys and like last year, we’re super deep, we’ve got great staff, we’ve got great hitters on the bench. 

“I’m really hoping we pull off the same thing we did last year.” 

Last week, the Dawgs split a four-game set with the Sylvan Lake Gulls, posted a blowout victory over Brooks, led by a Alejandro Cazorla grand slam, and earned an 11th inning walk-off 5-4 victory over Fort McMurray. 

Okotoks, first in the West Division with a 7-2 record, takes its show on the road this week for a five-game trip with a pit-stop in Sylvan Lake on June 7 followed by a four-game set versus the Giants in Fort McMurray from June 8-11. The Dawgs’ next home date is June 14 against the Gulls. 

For more information, visit dawgsbaseball.ca. 


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks