
Host Okotoks Dawgs drop Game 1 of WCBL's best-of-three semifinal series
The Okotoks Dawgs' drive for history hit a speed bump Sunday.
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In pushing for a Western Canadian Baseball League-record fourth-straight championship, the team got sidetracked 7-3 to the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the first game of the West Division semifinal series at Seaman Stadium.
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That puts the Dawgs in a do-or-die spot heading into Monday's game of the best-of-three series at Gulls Stadium in Sylvan Lake (7:05 p.m.).
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In Game 1, the Dawgs scored two runs in the fourth inning and one in the sixth, but it wasn't enough to answer the early strength by the Gulls, who tallied two runs in each of the first and second frames, and the four-run barrage in the sixth.
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A late insurance run by the Gulls in the ninth sealed the outcome.
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Offensively, the Dawgs collected eight hits, with Zane Skansi (Campbellsville University) providing the biggest swing of the day — a solo home run. Ricardo Sanchz (Tennessee Tech), Nash Crowell (Tennessee Tech), Connor Crowson (Tennessee Tech), Logan Grant (Bellevue University), Aidan Rose (UBC), Jake Skaggs (Pittsburgh State) and Barry Eiseman (Reinhart University) each added a hit. Rose and Grant each knocked home runs.
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On the mound for the Dawgs, it was Gavin Wuschke (Bellevue) working five innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out six. Reid Madariaga (Seattle University) and Garrett White (Bellevue) each threw a scoreless inning in relief, combining for two strikeouts. The Dawgs pullpen allowed just one run in the final three innings.
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If needed, Game 3 of the semifinal is scheduled for Wednesday at Seaman Stadium (7:05 p.m.).
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The Dawgs came into the post-seaosn as the top team in the West after a 40-16 regular schedule.
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Next in the division were the Gulls with a 36-20 record.
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The Dawgs punched their ticket to the semifinal series by dispatching of the Brooks Bombers in two straight games — 11-4 and 9-2 — earlier this week.
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The Gulls, meanwhile, took down the Lethbridge Bulls 8-0 and 6-2 to reach this series.
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Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blue and Gold miss golden opportunity in Calgary heartbreaker
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However, Calgary only needed four plays to get into range for René Paredes, who drilled a 40-yard boot with zeroes on the clock to complete a dramatic victory for the Stamps, who improved to 6-3. Calgary has won all three regular-season meetings against the Bombers for the first time since 2016, while Winnipeg has now dropped four of its last five. 'We just got to find a way to make one or two of those little plays,' said Willie Jefferson. 'It's gonna sting for the night… but once we start watching film on the next team, we can't dwell on the past. We gotta keep moving forward. We gotta try to stack some wins together, and just keep moving.' Indeed, there's no time to dwell. The Bombers must reset for a home date against the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday (7:30 p.m.). Before we turn to Week 11, let's wrap up Week 10 with the latest edition of Five Takeaways. There's an old adage in football: players over plays. 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(Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files) Behind Oliveira in receiving were Kevens Clercius, three catches for 32 yards; Demski, three grabs for 28 yards; Jerreth Sterns, three receptions for 27 yards; Dillon Mitchell, three catches for 22 yards; and Keric Wheatfall, one catch for seven yards. The offence's biggest play of the game came on a 23-yard strike from Collaros to Sterns, who waltzed into the end zone untouched in the first quarter. The absence of star receiver Dalton Schoen, whose return remains unknown, looms large for this group. Collaros needs at least two pass catchers he can count on, regardless of the situation. If the Bombers and Stamps are to meet again in the playoffs, rest assured, there will be a concerted effort to stop Jaylon Hutchings. Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, right, is sacked by Calgary Stampeders' Jaylon Hutchings during second half CFL football action in Calgary, Alta., Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files) The Stampeders' 25-year-old defensive tackle was a problem for the interior of the Bombers' offensive line. Hutchings continued his breakout season, registering a pair of sacks and pressuring Collaros on three occasions. He now has six sacks to go with 24 defensive tackles this season. The 6 foot, 304-pounder also made several important plays in the run game, and even sniffed out a screen pass in the third quarter, hauling Oliveira to the ground to end the Bombers' drive. The third phase of the game continues to be special for the Blue and Gold. Sergio Castillo was nails again on this night, connecting from 49, 53 and 37 yards before his record-tying kick. Castillo is 21-of-23 on the year, and his three makes of 50-plus yards are tied for second most in the league, while his average attempt of 39.2 yards is the most of any kicker. The kicking battery has been solid with rookie Ian Leroux snapping and Jamieson Sheahan holding. Meanwhile, Trey Vaval continues to provide a spark in the return game. His 449 punt-return yards were the most of any player entering Week 10, and he averaged 15.8 yards per attempt against Calgary. Believe it or not, the first half was the easy part of the Bombers' schedule this season. The Stampeders on the road were just the beginning, and now the Bombers head into the teeth of their campaign. Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Evan Holm, top, and Deatrick Nichols, bottom, tackle Calgary Stampeders' Dedrick Mills during first half CFL football action in Calgary, Alta., Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files)/p> After Winnipeg hosts the Redblacks, they hit the road for a pair of games against the Montreal Alouettes (5-4) — who hope Davis Alexander returns by then — and Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-1) on Labour Day. Then the Riders visit to complete the annual home-and-home between the Prairie rivals before the Bombers go back on the road to face the East Division-leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Clubs are judged based on their performances against the best teams in the league. The Bombers missed an opportunity against Calgary on Saturday, but they will have plenty more chances coming up. X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.


Calgary Herald
19 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Host Okotoks Dawgs drop Game 1 of WCBL's best-of-three semifinal series
Article content The Okotoks Dawgs' drive for history hit a speed bump Sunday. Article content In pushing for a Western Canadian Baseball League-record fourth-straight championship, the team got sidetracked 7-3 to the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the first game of the West Division semifinal series at Seaman Stadium. Article content Article content That puts the Dawgs in a do-or-die spot heading into Monday's game of the best-of-three series at Gulls Stadium in Sylvan Lake (7:05 p.m.). Article content In Game 1, the Dawgs scored two runs in the fourth inning and one in the sixth, but it wasn't enough to answer the early strength by the Gulls, who tallied two runs in each of the first and second frames, and the four-run barrage in the sixth. Article content Article content A late insurance run by the Gulls in the ninth sealed the outcome. Article content Offensively, the Dawgs collected eight hits, with Zane Skansi (Campbellsville University) providing the biggest swing of the day — a solo home run. Ricardo Sanchz (Tennessee Tech), Nash Crowell (Tennessee Tech), Connor Crowson (Tennessee Tech), Logan Grant (Bellevue University), Aidan Rose (UBC), Jake Skaggs (Pittsburgh State) and Barry Eiseman (Reinhart University) each added a hit. Rose and Grant each knocked home runs. Article content On the mound for the Dawgs, it was Gavin Wuschke (Bellevue) working five innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out six. Reid Madariaga (Seattle University) and Garrett White (Bellevue) each threw a scoreless inning in relief, combining for two strikeouts. The Dawgs pullpen allowed just one run in the final three innings. Article content Article content If needed, Game 3 of the semifinal is scheduled for Wednesday at Seaman Stadium (7:05 p.m.). Article content The Dawgs came into the post-seaosn as the top team in the West after a 40-16 regular schedule. Article content Next in the division were the Gulls with a 36-20 record. Article content The Dawgs punched their ticket to the semifinal series by dispatching of the Brooks Bombers in two straight games — 11-4 and 9-2 — earlier this week. Article content The Gulls, meanwhile, took down the Lethbridge Bulls 8-0 and 6-2 to reach this series.


Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Calgary Herald
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