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Wednesday December 28, 2011
While the Okotoks Dawgs are just about half way through the off-season, one of the club’s great annual events is fast approaching.
The 2012 Okotoks Dawgs Awards Banquet & Fundraiser is set for 7pm on Saturday, January 21st at the Foothills Centennial Centre in Okotoks.
The Awards Banquet is a chance to look back and celebrate what was another special year for the entire Dawgs organization, from the ‘JDawgs’ Academy teams, to the summer collegiate squad, while also looking ahead to bigger and better things in 2012.
2011 saw the Dawgs summer collegiate team make another trip to the Championship Series, while setting a team record for wins in a regular season with 34. Attendance at Seaman Stadium rose to an all-time high of 2,349 fans per game, with a single-game record 4,434 at the ballpark on Canada Day.
Just as important as the success of the summer collegiate team, was the continued success and growth of the Dawgs Academy. On the field, 2011 saw both the midget and bantam JDawg programs win silver medals at the Canadian National Championship. Dawgs Academy members Wyle Cunningham and Chris Shaw spent time on the Canadian National Junior Team along with Academy graduate, Jordan Procyshen.
2011 also saw the construction of Tourmaline Field, the new ‘Home of the JDawgs’ adjacent to Seaman Stadium. Tourmaline Field gives the program another state-of-the-art facility that can be used early in the spring and late into the fall with it’s field turf infield.
This year’s graduating class of the Dawgs Academy will be recognized at the banquet.
It was another big year for Dawgs alumni in 2011, with 2 more Dawgs being selected in the MLB draft in June, and 3 signing free agent contracts with MLB organizations. Dawgs alums Jim Henderson, Emerson Frostad, and Mark Hardy were members of Team Canada as they won the gold medal at the 2011 Pan Am Games after concluding their minor league seasons; Henderson and Frostad are again spending their off season coaching in the Dawgs Academy.
The four award winners from the 2011 summer collegiate Dawgs will be honored at the banquet. They include:
MVP: Kasey Coffman
A freshman out of Arizona State University and Phoenix, Arizona, Coffman didn’t take long to find his stroke in Okotoks, and was a force in the middle of the Dawgs lineup all summer. The 6’4’’ left-handed hitter was among team leaders in every offensive category including his .364 average, 5 homeruns, 31 RBI, and 15 stolen bases, while providing solid defense at first base and right field.
Kasey caught fire in the playoffs, pacing the Dawgs with 4 homeruns and 14 RBI while hitting .444 in 12 playoff games.
Rookie of the Year: Tyler Hollick
A freshman out of Chandler-Gilbert Community College, this 2010 Dawgs Academy graduate was arguably the Dawgs most productive and consistent offensive contributor from day one. A native of Calgary, AB, Hollick led the team with his .407 average, 36 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, while patrolling left field. He hit .318 with an RBI and 4 stolen bases in 12 playoff games.
Tyler recently committed to Ohio State University for the 2012-2013 season, and has signed with the Dawgs for the summer of 2012.
Pitcher of the Year: Jared Rogers
A sophomore from Hofstra University and Flemington, New Jersey, Jared quickly made a name for himself in the Dawgs rotation. In the regular season, Rogers led the pitching staff with a 1.55 ERA while posting a 4-0 record in 8 appearances, 6 starts spanning 40.2 innings. The right-hander continued to shine in the playoffs with a 2-0 record and 1.69 ERA in 3 playoff appearances, 2 starts, totaling 16 innings.
True Grit Award: Austin Voros
A junior from Texas A&M Intl. University, this second year Dawg enjoyed another strong season in Okotoks, and erupted in the playoffs. The native of Surrey, BC hit .287 with 4 homeruns and 13 RBI with 4 stolen bases in the regular season, while hitting .265 with 2 homeruns and 10 RBI in 9 playoff games. Just as important were his contributions to the group off the field and in the clubhouse on a daily basis making him a worthy recipient of the True Grit Award.
Voros has signed with the Dawgs for the 2012 summer season.
The Banquet will feature dinner and drinks, as well as live and silent auctions full of sports memorabilia and experiences, vacation packages, and so much more.
Tickets for the 2012 Okotoks Dawgs Awards Banquet & Fundraiser are $100 per ticket, or $800 per table. Call Jim Amy at 403-262-3294 to purchase your tickets.
We hope to see you on January 21st for a night of baseball in the middle of winter, as we get ready for the sixth year of Dawgs Baseball in Okotoks!
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