WMBL Names Five Dawgs To First All-Star Team

Five Okotoks Dawgs have found themselves among the WMBL's elite, as the League announced its First and Second All Star teams on Monday.

Pitchers Dylan Nelson and Trevor Swaney, Infielders Brendan Hendriks and Brian Sisler, and Outfielder Daniel Fredrickson were all named First Team All-Stars.

Dawgs Manager Brett Thomas says he couldn't be more proud of all five players.

"They've really, every single time, worked hard," he says. "Especially on the mound, Swaney and Nelson have both been continually getting better every time they get out, and obviously from an offensive standpoint, to have three bats like that (Hendriks, Sisler and Fredrickson) in the top four of your lineup is huge."

Thomas says his coaching staff also deserves a lot of credit.

"(Assistant Coach) Dave (Robb) is so great with the hitters, and (Pitching Coach) Austin (Brough) is so great with the pitchers, it makes my job so much easier, and those guys really deserve the credit," he says.

Dylan Nelson:

Games: 9
Games started: 8
Wins: 7
Losses: 0
Saves: 1
Innings: 56.1
Hits: 45
Runs: 17
Earned runs: 14
Walks: 11
Strikeouts: 60
ERA: 2.24

After nearly quitting baseball altogether following an MLB Draft snub, Thomas was able to convince the recent University of Cal-Berkeley grad to come play for the Dawgs, and the ace responded by tying a Dawgs record for wins (seven), previously set by Dawgs legend Jeff Duda.

His seven wins also put him tops in the league, in a tie with fellow Dawg Trevor Swaney.

Nelson finished first on the team, and third in the league with 60 strikeouts, fourth in the league in ERA, and finished the season without a single loss.

Nelson says he's humbled to be mentioned amongst the league's top players.

"It means a lot to just go out and compete with these guys, and be a part of this team, and play in front of this crowd every night," he says. "It's an honour to be mention on (the First All-Star) team, there's some great guys that are on that squad, so it means a lot."

After earning the win in game one of the Dawgs' first-round playoff series against Medicine Hat Monday night, Nelson now single-handedly holds the team record for wins in a season with eight.

Trevor Swaney:

Games: 10
Games started: 5
Wins: 7
Losses: 1
Saves:0
Innings: 48
Hits: 42
Runs: 11
Earned runs: 9
Walks: 12
Strikeouts: 32
ERA: 1.69

Just like Nelson, Swaney led the league in wins with seven, and tied Jeff Duda's team record for wins in a season, and he led the league with a miniscule 1.69 ERA.

The Wright State University pitcher continued to improve as the season went on, and helped make up a lethal 1-2 punch on the mound with Nelson.

Swaney will return to Wright State in the fall for his Junior season.

Daniel Fredrickson:

Games: 40
At bats: 135
Runs: 30
Hits: 48
Doubles: 7
Triples: 0
Home-runs: 0
Runs batted-in: 20
Batting average: .356

Similar to Dylan Nelson, Fredrickson came to the Dawgs this summer with his love for baseball in question, after seeing limited action as a Freshman at Washington State University.

The outfielder turned his disappointment into a stellar season for the Dawgs, finishing fifth in the league in batting average, second on the team in hits, and he became a steady presence on defence.

Fredrickson says playing in Okotoks this season re-affirmed his love of the game.

"I was not in a good place in college, not getting a lot of playing time," he says. "I had a few good friends, so that was nice, but coming here and playing, and being a starter, that was it for me, that was all I needed."

Fredrickson says he owes much of his success as a Dawg to everyone who supported him along the way.

"There's so many people in the background," he says. "Being named an All-Star is cool and everything, but it's definitely never an individual effort, there's so many other people involved, but it is an honour."

Brendan Hendriks:

Games: 31
At bats: 125
Runs: 24
Hits: 42
Doubles: 10
Triples: 2
Home-runs: 4
Runs batted-in: 36
Batting average: .336

After being passed over in the MLB draft, Hendriks joined the team part-way through the season, and the one-time member of the J-Dawgs Academy proceeded to lead the way offensively for the Dawgs.

He finished with 36 RBI's, just one behind league-leader and MVP Brandon Bufton of the Lethbridge Bulls, despite playing in 16 less games, and his four home-runs led the team.

Hendriks says he's proud to be part of the Dawgs organization, and couldn't have asked for a better season.

"It's been a ton of fun coming out and playing in this atmosphere and these guys," he says. "We have a great team chemistry, and I think that's why we're doing so well right now."

Hendriks says while it's an honour to be named a First Team All-Star, he owes a lot to the level of talent on his team.

"We've got five guys on the All-Star lineup, and five-or-six more guys who could be could be on the All-Star lineup," he says. "All-around, we have a lot of depth. Our bench is ready to play at all times, and it shows, we have different guys in the lineup every day, and it really helps us out."

The Cochrane native had just completed his Senior season at the University of San Francisco.

Brian Sisler:

Games: 44
At bats: 162
Runs: 41
Hits: 55
Doubles: 10
Triples: 4
Home-runs: 3
Runs batted-in: 28
Batting average: .340

Sisler was one of, if not the most reliable Dawg both on offence and defence all season long.

The infielder tied for second in the league among second basemen with 77 put-outs, and committed just five errors.

Offensively, he finished second on the team in batting average and RBIs, first on the team in hits, and second in the league in runs scored.

Sisler says his stats reflect the play of the entire Dawgs' offence.

"An RBI stat, that's always been a team stat," he says. "It means guys in front of you are getting on base, and you're able to get them in. To be up there (on the All-Star team) with four other guys is pretty cool."

Sisler is heading into his Senior season at Northern Illinois University.