So far this season the Sylvan Lake Gulls have been unable to solve the Okotoks Dawgs.
On Tuesday evening at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, the Dawgs defeated the Gulls 10-4 for their fourth victory over the Birds this season.
On the bright side or perhaps not, the Dawgs have been a mountain very few in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) have been able to conquer this season.
The defending back-to-back WCBL champions have lost just two games in 2024. Only the Lethbridge Bulls have been able to do it. They defeated the Dawgs 10-4 on Wednesday, June 19, and again 12-4 on Friday, June 7.
On Tuesday the Gulls held the lead in the top of the third inning after scoring four runs. However, it didn't last long as the Dawgs also notche four runs in the bottom half of the inning to lead 5-4 after scoring in the bottom of the second.
From there, the Dawgs scored five unanswered runs and shut the door the rest of the way to pick up the victory.
Designated hitter Cooper Ciesielski led the way with two RBIs, which adds to his impressive season of 36 RBIs. Meanwhile, the Dawgs were led by Tucker Zdunich who had four RBIs including a home run. Nash Crowell and Logan Grant also each had a home run for Okotoks.
After their most recent matchup, the Dawgs remain on top of the West Division with an 18-2 record followed by the Gulls in second place at 16-7.
The Gulls are 3.5 games back from first place and have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Gulls swept the Swift Current 57s last week beating them 15-8 and 15-10.
After that, they split a two-game series Moose Jaw on Friday and Saturday before beating the Medicine Hat Mavericks 10-3 on Sunday.
This week they'll face the Brooks Bombers on the road on Thursday and Friday before returning home on Saturday to play the Weyburn Beavers on Saturday and Sunday at Gulls Stadium and 7:05 p.m. and 2:05 p.m.