The Okotoks Dawgs U-18 Black team were the big winners at the Spokane 2017 Wood Bat Classic, which wrapped up Monday, July 3.

The American Legion tournament is for players 19 or younger, with 60 teams participating broken into pools of five competing against each other.

Dawgs U-18 Coach and former Dawgs pitcher, Jeff Duda says while the Black team took the title, a portion of the win in the finals was actually thanks to the Dawgs U-18 Red team.

"We actually went there short five of our players who had to stay home for their graduation, so we went down there short handed. Luckily we had the Red team in the same tournament as well, and for the championship game we actually borrowed a couple of their arms."

Duda says Aaron Petes started the championship game, with Quinn Tocheniuk getting the save, both of which played for the Red team.

He adds it was a grind for the boys, as being short handed meant they had to play seven games in just four days.

"Usually we carry 22 players, and it'll be a couple games each. But they had to play every single game, and it was 100 degrees out every single day, but they grinded it out and played well."

The Black and Red U-18 teams now head to Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, July 11 for the Buck Eye Elite tournament at Ohio State University.

Duda says it's one of the biggest tournaments of the year for the Dawgs U-18 teams.

"It's a huge opportunity for both our Black and Red teams. We're taking both down there so it will be good for them to get exposure. It's probably some of the best competition we'll see all year."