The Okotoks Dawgs are taking to the diamond as hungry as ever in 2026. With more bite, too, they hope. All that comes from what was a tough early exit to swallow last summer in an effort to four-peat as champions of the Western Canadian Baseball League.
Yes, they are frothing at the mouth to redeem themselves and re-establish themselves as kingpins, beginning with this week's return to summer ball at Seaman Stadium.
Returning Core Fuels Determination
Close to a dozen talents return from what was a loss — a best-of-three sweep — in the West Division championship to the Sylvan Lake Gulls, who then lost themselves to the Regina Red Sox in the WCBL finale. The hunger is mutual among those returnees.
"Definitely ready to go," said Dawgs sixth-year infielder Connor Crowson, who marked the final out of the team's season in 2025. "It hurt last year losing. And being the last out there, I'm definitely going to remember that and use that as fuel for the rest of the year."
"Any time you don't get what you want, you want it more," said Dawgs manager Lou Pote. "So we're really excited to get going and bring that trophy back here. Hopefully, we're behind home plate at Seaman Stadium lifting up the trophy again in a few months."
Season Opener and Home Debut
That road to redemption began Thursday night, when the Dawgs began the 56-game season schedule against the same team that eliminated them last summer by playing the host Gulls. The teams rematch in the Dawgs home opener in Okotoks on Friday night at Seaman Stadium (7:05 p.m.).
"This year, we have the same group of guys that are coming in hungry," Crowson said. "Obviously, we lost a few seniors and others, but I feel like they added a bunch of good guys that are going to know what this is about real quickly. And all the fans here want winners, and I think we're gonna do that for them."
2026 Roster Breakdown
Pitchers
- Alex Garcia, Miami, Fla., Oklahoma Wesleyan University, R/R, 6'1, 205
- Ashton Luera, Albuquerque, N.M., Oklahoma Wesleyan University, R/R, 6'0, 200
- Austin Collins, Calgary, University of Portland, R/R, 5'11, 170
- Blake Smith, Sheldon, Wash., Seattle University, R/R, 6'1, 190
- Brody Burnette, Kansas City, Mo., Bellevue University, R/R, 6'5, 230
- Brody Forno, Okotoks, Campbellsville University, R/R, 6'2, 180
- Brody Papay, Avon, Ohio, Wright State University, L/L, 6'4, 216
- Christopher Wrench, Bozeman, Mont., College of Southern Nevada, L/L, 6'5, 230
- Dalton Hoffart, Tomball, Texas, Hill College, R/R, 5'10, 160
- Emmett Stacher, Etna, Calif., Linn Benton Community College, S/R, 5'10, 170
- Evan Lehnert, Pendleton, Ore., Linn Benton Community College, R/R, 6'4, 165
- Gabe Brabec, Ashland, Ore., Gonzaga University, R/R, 6'2, 195
- Grady Keljo, Portland, Ore., University of Portland, R/R, 6'4, 230
- Jerome Pare, Montreal, Central Arizona College, R/R, 6'4, 195
- Joe McBride, Everett, Wash., Campbellsville University, R/R, 6'1, 210
- Jordan Kievman, Norton, Ohio, Wright State University, L/L, 6'2, 175
- Korey Alston, San Antonio, Texas, Odessa College, R/R, 6'4, 185
- Logan Rumberg, Saskatoon, George Mason University, R/R, 5'11, 185
- Max McCraray, The Woodlands, Texas, University of Houston, L/L, 6'2, 205
- Nolan Jackson, Grimsby, Ont., McCook Community College, R/R, 5'10, 165
- Reid Madariaga, Mililani, Hawaii, Bellevue University, R/R, 5'9, 170
- Tyson Willis, Snohomish, Wash., George Mason University, R/R, 6'4, 220
- Will Labonte, Montreal, University of Portland, R/R, 5'10, 180
