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Calgary Herald

Okotoks Dawgs gear up to host WCBL all-star festivities, celebration of baseball in Canada

Article content The Western Canadian Baseball League's mid-summer classic is returning to Okotoks on Saturday. Article content The 2025 WCBL All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, hosted by the Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club and presented by Fortis Alberta, takes the field at Seaman Stadium for an afternoon of fun and an evening of excitement. Article content 'The Dawgs and the town of Okotoks are proud to host the WCBL's All Star Game and Home Run Derby,' said Dawgs managing director John Ircandia. 'This is our third year in a row in hosting the event, and as in the past two seasons, we anticipate a sold-out crowd of over 5,000 fans.' Article content Article content Article content When the home run derby heats up Seaman Stadium, 200 little leaguers will be shagging fly balls. Article content Others will be entertained by family-fun activities, including face painting and mascot challenges. Article content 'And our more seasoned fans can take the opportunity to chat and get autographs from various baseball celebrities, including Canadian baseball legend, hall-of-famer and World Series champion Matt Stairs,' Ircandia said. 'So fans are encouraged to get their tickets now. Article content 'The all-star game is truly a family-fun experience.' The Dawgs call the all-star festivities an all-day celebration of baseball in Canada, featuring the best players in the West Division of the WCBL matched up against the best of the East Division. Article content The event further entertains fans with a BBQ, musical entertainment and a post-game fireworks display. Article content Article content And in addition to the home run derby, fans in attendance have a chance to win $10,000 in a promotion sponsored by Pete The Plumber. If the target is hit, one lucky fan will win $10,000. Article content 'We hope to build on a successful and sold-out 2024 all-star game when the club attracted a record-breaking crowd of 6,003 fans,' Ircandia said. 'Tickets to the 2025 WCBL All Star Game are going fast (at Article content The WCBL is Canada's premier summer collegiate league and unlike other summer collegiate circuits based in the United States, the WCBL showcases top Canadian and American talent from leading universities and colleges on the continent. Article content Numerous WCBL grads have gone to play top levels of professional baseball including: Matt Wilkinson (Cleveland Guardians), Tristan Peters (Tampa Bay Rays), Gavin Logan (Arizona Diamondbacks), Jacob Melton (Houston Astros), Kody Funderburk (Minnesota Twins), Andrew Kittredge (Boston Red Sox), and Alejo Lopez (Oakland Athletics), Andrelton Simmons (Atlanta Braves), Marco Gonzales (Seattle Mariners), Andrew Albers (Minnesota Twins), John Axford (Milwaukee Brewers), Dustin Molleken (Detroit Tigers), Josh Taylor (Boston Red Sox) and Erik Sabrowski (Cleveland Guardians).