Bulls split with the Dawgs
By Lethbridge Herald on July 27, 2021.
The Lethbridge Bulls went 1-1 in a weekend trek to Okotoks in Western Canadian Baseball League play Saturday and Sunday.
The Bulls opened with a 6-0 victory over the Okotoks Dawgs Red Saturday afternoon, but were unable to make it a clean road sweep, falling 9-4 the Dawgs Black Sunday.
With the split the Bulls remain in second place in the WCBL at 13-12, two-and-half games back of the Dawgs Black (15-9), who have now won four games in a row.
On Sunday, the Dawgs Black opened with four runs in the first inning.
The Bulls managed to cut the lead to 5-4 with three runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a three-run shot from Torrin Vaselenak, but Okotoks added two more in their half of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead that wasn’t threatened the rest of the way.
Lethbridge was held to six hits in Sunday’s loss as third baseman Brad Goodwin batted 2-for-4 and second baseman Jack Ray went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Vaselenak’s three RBI give him 17 this season.
Bulls starter Kyle Poapst took the loss and is now 1-4 this season.
The product of Stettler went three innings and gave up five runs on three hits, walking six and striking out three.
Andrew Yusypchuk earned the win for the Dawgs Black, throwing four innings and allowing four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one.
On Saturday against the Dawgs Red, local starter Levi Abbott threw six shutout innings to keep his season record perfect at 4-0. He’s now in a three-way tie for first in the WCBL in wins.
Abbott allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out 10. His season earned run average is 1.59, good for second in the WCBL. Abbott’s 10 strikeouts Saturday give him 55 on the season, also good for second in the league.
Lethbridge plated three runs in the second inning, two in the fourth and another one in the ninth to earn the win despite being outhit 10-6 by the Dawgs Red.
Bulls left fielder Evan Symons hit 3-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI.
After the weekend, Bulls catcher Noah Or leads the WCBL in batting average at .407. Ty Penner is sixth, batting .350.
Or, along with Nick Gravel, are tied for first in the league in runs scored with along with Brendan Luther of the Edmonton Prospects and Kaden Zarowny of the Dawgs Black.
Or and Mike Fitzsimmons are also tied for second in the league in hits with 33, one behind McCoy Pearce of the Prospects.
Bulls left fielder Carlin Dick is second in the WCBL in RBI with 22.
Bulls pitcher Jake Anderson’s three wins has him in a six-way tie for second in the WCBL.
The Bulls are back at Spitz Stadium Wednesday night when the Dawgs Red visit for a rematch at 7:05 p.m.
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