Dawgs 18U caps historic season

Among the tournaments that the Okotoks Dawgs 18U Black Team won this season was the Best of the West 18U Premier Showcase in Kamloops, B.C. in May. Photo: Dawgs Academy

July 30, 2025

Official Dawgs Academy News Release

OKOTOKS, ALTA. – The Okotoks Dawgs 18U Black team has concluded one of the most dominant seasons in Canadian baseball history, posting a staggering 60-5-1 record against non-JUCO teams.

They also won six of seven elite tournament championships against premier youth teams on both sides of the border. This includes championship wins at the Best of the West (Canada’s premier 18U tournament), the Perfect Game 18U World Series in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Curt Daniels Tournament, widely regarded as the top youth baseball event in the Pacific Northwest.

This elite group featured 24 college commits, including 9 NCAA Division I signees, a testament to the exceptional talent developed through the Dawgs Academy. The 2025 season saw the continuation of the extraordinary 100% graduation rate in college placements across the Dawgs Academy with over $3M in scholarships awarded to Dawgs players. The program also celebrated four MLB Draft selections in 2025, including Dawgs alumni Tim Piasentin (fifth round, Toronto Blue Jays), Canon Reeder (18th round, Pittsburgh Pirates), Tyrelle Chadwick (18th round, Colorado Rockies) and Max Poirier (Non-drafted free agent, Kansas City Royals).

While 18U Black made headlines, the 18U Red and White teams also delivered strong performances, combining for a 76-50 record with multiple tournament finals appearances and elite individual development all season long. The 18U Red Dawgs captured the Northwest Diamond Series Elite Championship in Portland, Oregon, further showcasing the depth of talent in the program.

Elite coaching staff sets the standard

Another element that sets the Dawgs apart is the deepest professional-level coaching staff in amateur baseball. The Academy boasts 25 coaches with collegiate or professional playing experience, including give active MLB Associate scouts, former major leaguers and World Series champions Matt Stairs (Philadelphia Phillies) and Lou Pote (Los Angeles Angels), as well as former
professionals Tyler Hollick (San Francisco Giants) and Jeff Duda (Quebec Capitales).

Dawgs Academy players further have the advantage of mentoring under the guidance of the summer collegiate Dawgs and coaching staff and many Academy Dawgs benefit from seeing action with the college team over the course of the season.

Adding to the Dawgs’ offseason edge, numerous current minor league players return to mentor and train Academy athletes, including:

  • Gavin Logan – Arizona Diamondbacks

  • Matt Wilkinson – Cleveland Guardians

  • Eric Hartman – Atlanta Braves

  • Tristan Peters – Tampa Bay Rays

  • Matt Lloyd – St. Louis Cardinals

This unmatched access to high-level instruction and mentorship ensures that every Dawgs player is developed to their full potential and highly prepared for the next level, be that college or professional baseball.

Bright future for the Dawgs

The Dawgs are not slowing down. The 15U Black team is in pursuit of a fourth straight provincial championship, while the 13U Black squad is chasing another provincial championship. Dawgs 13U Red and 15U Red both had strong performances at their respective provincial championships while Dawgs 14U Black capped off their season with a tournament championship at the PNW 14U World Series in Portland, Ore. Meanwhile, the college Dawgs, with just three weeks remaining in the regular season, hold first place in the WCBL West Division as they eye a fourth straight WCBL Championship and ninth overall.

Facility expansion fuels development

In line with its commitment to elite player development, the Dawgs are unveiling major facility expansions to serve the next generation of Academy athletes. This includes:

  • Tripling the size of the weight room offering state-of-the-art equipment;

  • Construction of a state-of-the-art, 6500 sq. ft Hitting and Pitching lab;

  • Addition of another five indoor hitting cages;

  • Addition of another three pitching lanes with the latest analytical technology;

  • Launch of a cutting-edge “Mind Gym” to enhance mental performance training.

These enhancements ensure the Dawgs remain Canada’s premier youth academy, and development program offering student-athletes world-class opportunities to grow on and off the field.

SandlotsCBN Staff