The Okotoks Dawgs defeated the Brooks Bombers by a score of 10-2 on friday evening in Brooks. Prior to first pitch the Riley Martin memorial tournment was celebrated as many young baseball players will be competing in Brooks this weekend during the 10th annual tournment in honor of Riley Martin. He passed away 10 years ago and has been honored in the community ever since. President and GM Jason Wandler shared what this tournment means to the community as many of the team were on the field and recognized. Terressa Martin threw out the ceremonial first pitch to cap off the pregame ceremony.
Jeremy Kahle made his first start in Bomber colours and Okotoks sent out righty Troy Benko. Both pitchers cruised through the first inning but that came to a halt when Benito Bonilla came up to bat in the top of the Second and got the Dawgs on the board with a solo homerun. The next batter Jason Ariola walked and Landon Kauffman would add to the lead with a two run homerun.
The Bomber bats fell silent as Benko went four innings giving up two hits and striking out five. In the fifth Adam Beamin took over and with one out new Bomber Kelton Phillips doubbled then stole third. Jacob Gillis Walked then shortly after advanced to secound on a past ball. Antony Gilbert would send a fly ball to left field and phillips would score on the sacrifice.
Kahle would get out of another jam in the 6th forcing the Dawgs to leave two men on but the Bombers couldnt cash in during the bottom half. Khale was back out there for the seventh and recorded the first out of the inning before Jacob Wrubleski hit a solo homerun that ended Kahles night going six and one third innings giving up seven hits and five earned while striking out seven.
“He did a great job at limiting the damage tonight”, said pitching coach Jake Zettel.
“I liked my splitter tonight, I thought it froze alot of hitters up there”, said Kahle.
Grant Harvill was first out of the bullpen in relief and struggled with command walking a pair of batters and giving up one hit that resulted in the Dawgs scoring two more. Evan Hoegler would be next up on the mound and would get out of a jam leaving the bases loaded. Okotoks would add two more in the eight on a single from Jason Ariola to make it a 10-2 game.
Brooks got their second run from Kelton Phillips who had four hits on the night including his first homerun in the seventh inning.
“I feel very comfortable here already”, said Phillips
“Kelton adds more speed to our lineup and you saw it tonight, the kid can hit”, said Zettel.
The Bombers will look to add to the prouductivity of Phillips saturday night in Okotoks for the back half of this home & home.