Due to weather delays, league administration was forced to call the season prematurely

With an amazing season under their belts, the Okotoks Dawgs led the finals with a 3 – 1 win over the Medicine Hat Mavericks. All indications were the Dawgs had the championship well in hand. But Mother Nature made the final call by raining out three games in a row to force a tie decision.

Many players in the league have commitments to American college teams during the year, and so had to return to those teams.

Photo: Julie-Carole Vincent/ Calgary Journal

“Regrettably, we simply ran out of time,” stated Merv Oxirny, President of the Western Major Baseball League Board of Governors. “The continuing commitment of many players to their college educations was one of the paramount considerations in our ultimate decision,” Ozirny said.

League administration awarded the2009 WMBL Championships as a co-win to the Dawgs and the Melville Millionaires. The Dawgs shared win means they achieved their Three-peat goal.

Ken Sullivan, father of Mac, pitcher with the Dawgs, says Mac was at first disappointed that the team ended with a shared championship.

“I think everyone was pretty bummed out because they wanted to bring the championship to the town but after all, both teams worked their butts off all year. [Mac] was disappointed they didn’t win it outright but he said they had to have to look a the season in its entirety - and it was an awesome season.”

Three days of rain and players already booked on flights home meant there was no way to finish.

Photo: Julie-Carole Vincent/ Calgary Journal

Sullivan, who lives with his family in California, says whether or not Mac, returns to the Dawgs for the 2010 season, he and his family will definitely travel north again to catch some games. Sullivan is enthusiastic about the team says his family had a great time and a very warm reception from both the team and from people and other players’ families they met in Okotoks.

The Dawgs team members, as part of the North American collegiate system, come from all over North America and return to their school at the end of the playing season.

Of the 29 players on the Dawgs 2009 roster, 19 are returning to schools in the US, where the school year begins two weeks before their Canadian counterparts. Several Canadian players also had late august commitments to other North American teams prior to returning to their respective colleges and universities.

The Dawgs 2010 Season is already underway via season ticket sales. The regular season is scheduled for an early June 2010 start with first game date still to be announced.

Dawgs pitcher Mac Sullivan, second from left, is pictured here with his family.

Photo: Julie-Carole Vincent/ Calgary Journal