Dawgs manager AJ Fystro
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By John Barlow
Editor
As they prepare to defend their Western Major Baseball League title the Okotoks Dawgs are looking to a Dinosaur to lead the way.
Earlier this year the Dawgs announced AJ Fystro will be the team’s head coach for the 2008 season.
Fystro is no stranger to the Dawgs program and he is eager to get the new season underway.
“There is a lot of excitement in Okotoks,” said Fystro. “I have missed being away from the Dawgs.”
Fystro, 33, was an assistant coach with the Dawgs in 2004, a season also capped with a WMBL championship, before moving on to become the head coach with the University of Calgary Dinos.
After joining the Dinos, Fystro stepped down from the Dawgs to focus on recruiting for the the U of C.
However, Dawgs general manager John Ircandia was able to lure Fystro back to lead the Dawgs this season.
Ircandia said Fystro is exactly the kind of man the club wants guiding the young Dawgs.
“He has a reputation for being an offensive-minded and aggressive manager,” said Ircandia. “We liked him because he is extremely hard working and a player’s coach. He is a winner.”
As for Fystro, he is honoured the Dawgs invited him to be the manager of the Okotoks club.
“Basically, it is an honour coming back to the Dawgs,” he said.
One of the other determining factors for Fystro was an opportunity to be a part of “Dawgsmania” that has enveloped Okotoks.
The Dawgs averaged close to 1,000 fans for the home games last season and the 1,500-seat Seaman Stadium was a sell-out for the WMBL playoffs.
“It is the best thing that could have happened to this program was moving to Okotoks,” said Fystro. “Okotoks jumped on board and it was amazing. The Dawgs built that facility and were hoping for the support and the support was excellent from day one.”
Fystro, who played college ball at Merced Junior College in California, will have plenty of support on the bench when the 2008 campaign begins June 5.
A strong nucleus of the 2007 championship team is expected to return this season including MVP Manny Kumar (infielder), power-hitting outfielder Brandon Hunter and gritty catcher Brett Thomas, who will be a player/coach this season.
However, the strength of the Dawgs this season will be the embarrassingly deep pitching staff led by Pitcher of the Year Jeff Duda, Rookie of the Year Jake Bottari and closer Ryan Poffenroth.
Fystro said the team will rely on the pitching staff to carry the club while the position players find their hitting stroke and their spot in the line-up.
“The position guys will take some time to fill out and while that happens our pitching staff will have to throw strikes,” said Fystro.
The Dawgs will also be looking for some contributions from some highly touted newcomers including Lethbridge product Garrett Regan. Regan, a draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers hit a whopping .465 with Oklahoma City University this season including 21 doubles and six homeruns.
On the mound, the Dawgs will be looking at rookie right-handers Kirk Clark and Tanner Lorenz of Iowa Western Community College. Clark helped Iowa Western to the 2007 NCAA Junior College World Series and has since earned a scholarship to Division I Creighton.
As a high school junior Lorenz went 10-1 with 110 strikeouts in 52 innings. The 6’ 8” 240-pound hurler went 2-1 with Iowa Western this season with 23 strikeouts and just seven walks.
The Okotoks Dawgs open the season June 5 at Seaman Stadium against their provincial rival Lethbridge Bulls. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. |
