Bulls down the Dawgs Red

By Dale Woodard on July 29, 2021.

Eventually, the Lethbridge Bulls bats came around.

Until then, their arms held them in it on their way to a 12-4 win over the Okotoks Dawgs Red in Western Canadian Baseball League play Wednesday night at Spitz Stadium.

Bulls starter Jake Anderson threw six innings of two-run, two-hit ball and was eventually rewarded with some run support as Lethbridge clubbed three runs in the sixth and seventh innings and another six in the eighth to seal the win that improves them to 14-12.

Meanwhile Carlin Dick and Brad Goodwin each went 3-for-5 as Goodwin put up five RBI and Dick added one.

Goodwin is now second in the WCBL with 25 RBI and Dick is tied for third at 23.

“It’s kind of been the story all year long,” said Dick, who is now batting .329 this season. “We’ve been off to slow starts and put it on in the sixth, seventh and eighth. I wasn’t too worried. I knew at some point we would get to that guy. We eventually did and it took off from there.”

The Dawgs opened up a 2-0 lead after four innings, including a Brandon Hupe solo shot to left field in the fourth inning.

The Bulls took the lead for good in the sixth.

Josh Kabayama walked to lead off and scored on a single from Goodwin.

Evan Symons doubled to score Mike Fitzsimmons and Goodwin scored when Jack Ray grounded out to first.

“The offence kind of came alive at the end,” said Bulls head coach Chance Wheatley. “But Jake gave us a great start and at the end we put up some runs.”

Anderson walked two and struck out six to improve his record to 4-1 this season.

Reliever Bryce Fraser pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking two and striking out two before Liam Bohan worked the top of the ninth.

“Every time Bryce has come in this year he’s pounded the zone and he did that today,” said Wheatley. “Bryce has been fantastic for us. He’s given us a huge lift when he comes in. He eats up a few innings and that’s been huge.”

Meanwhile, Dick made a key running catch in right field in the third inning to keep a Dawgs runner at third base.

“Carlin, at the plate, puts up great at-bats,” said Wheatley. “Every time he gets up there he makes the pitchers work. He’s finding barrels and cashing guys in when he gets the chance. In the outfield, he’s about as steady as they come in right field. It’s great having him.”

Dick said he’s been seeing a lot of off speed pitches this year as opposed to fast balls.

“So it’s letting the ball travel and hitting it to left field has definitely been part of my success this year.”

With the win, the Bulls remain in second place and two games back of the Okotoks Dawgs Black (16-10).

The Bulls head to Sylvan Lake tonight and Friday to take on the Gulls.

“It’s a lot of fun to come out and compete every night,” said Dick. “Everyone wants to win, so being able to get wins like this is a pretty good feeling. Hopefully we keep winning when we head to Sylvan this weekend and bring it back home.”

Kabayama was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Logan King batted 2-for-2 with one run scored and one RBI for the Bulls.

Torrin Vaselenak hit 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI and Nick Gravel went 2-for-4.

Noah Geekie took the loss for the Dawgs Red, throwing six and two-thirds innings and giving up six runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out eight.

The Bulls are back at Spitz Stadium for three games in three days starting Saturday (7:05 p.m.) and Sunday (2:05 p.m.) against the Gulls and host the Dawgs Black on Monday at 3:05 p.m.

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