Calgary Journal Online

The Okotoks Dawgs management and coaching teams are heading down the last stretch of their cross-Canada promotional run following the Dawgs’ Feb. 20 tryouts.

The seven-member team has recently returned from a successful early-February trip that covered several cities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

Jim Henderson, Dawgs pitching coach, during a team meeting.

Photo: Julie Vincent/Calgary Journal

The Duvernay Fieldhouse is home to a full-sized, field turf infield, six batting cages, three permanent mounds and two temporary mounds, complimented by the state-of-the-art DartFish video program, which the Dawgs use to provide real-time training analysis. Robb said the DartFish system is widely used.

“We see it at all levels of sport including the Olympics and it is in regular use with many pro ball teams like the (Milwaukee) Brewers and the Texas Rangers.”

Even though growth is a major goal for the organization, Dawgs coach and collegiate standout Brett Thomas said several Dawgs programs have achieved more rapid expansion than expected.

“We have been focused on growing our bantam division but it’s way bigger this year than we expected. We have a team full of returning players and will have a second bantam team this year.”

Thomas added that the Dawgs’ management is thrilled with the growth at that level.

Dawgs “collegiate graduate,” Jim Henderson, who now plays professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers, said that even if Calgarians are largely uninformed about the Dawgs Academy, residents of Okotoks are in full support.

Tammy Oulton, a parent and Okotoks resident, whose son will be trying out on Feb. 20, confirmed Henderson’s observations.

“We love them,” she said, referring to the franchise. “The whole town loves what they’re doing.”

Henderson, who began his baseball career at an early age and who travels extensively with the Brewers, said Calgarians don’t fully understand the quality of the Dawgs program or facilities.

“I’ve travelled a lot and trained in a bunch of places and even in big baseball states. There isn’t a facility like this. This is really excellent. There’s nothing like it anywhere else in Canada and not many like it in the (United) States.”

Okotoks mayor Bob McAlpine is enthusiastic about the Dawgs’ presence in the community.

“I can’t stress enough how important they are to the town. The Dawgs have opened up incredible opportunities for the youth in our community,” he said. “The Dawgs baseball program has been placed on the ‘Top Ten Best’ list in North America.”

The Dawgs enjoy a top-10 attendance rating in North America, no small feat for an organization situated in a town of 22,000 residents.

Mayor McAlpine said the Dawgs’ presence in the community has been a boon for the town as well, noting the Dawgs organization has helped in the economic development of Okotoks and lends support for tourism in Okotoks and area.

“The Dawgs are great ambassadors for the Town of Okotoks,” said McAlpine.

Junior athletes in the 16- to 18-year-old age range coming from out-of-province to join the Dawgs Academy program attend the near-by high school.

School counsellor Marlene Donnelly, who is directly responsible for incoming Dawgs junior players, said the school is thrilled to have the kids attending the school.

“This is our first year, so we’re just feeling our way around the relationship,” she said, “But we’ve been very fortunate in that we already had a standard set with players from the local hockey academy.”

Donnelly added that the school is really impressed with the quality of kids coming to the school via the Dawgs program. “We look forward to growing (the relationship) in the future.”

Donnelly also said that the town’s experience with the Dawgs collegiate players has been exceptional.

“The players who come from colleges have been a class act around town and that’s what [the organization] is trying to do with the junior players.”

Coach Robb stressed that academics are a major part of the expectations for junior Dawgs.

“At the academy level, we have a twice-weekly study hall. We’ve also established minimum academic levels for players who want to advance to collegiate-level ball,” he said, adding that coaches stand behind parents and support any concerns they have about their students’ academic performances.

The Okotoks Dawgs collegiate team finished their 2009 season with a “three-peat” WMBL Championship win and a shared top spot with the Melville Millionaires due to two final games being rained out.

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