The highly-anticipated West Division Final is going the distance.

The Okotoks Dawgs rallied from a pair of early one run deficits to edge Sylvan Lake Gulls 3-2 Monday night at Seaman Stadium to stave off elimination and force Game 3 of the best-of-three Western Canadian Baseball League West Division Final.

“The last couple of times it’s what could be our last game,” said Dawgs shortstop Brendan Luther.

“I think we have a really good thing going right now where everyone is playing for the guy next to him.

“It gets to a scenario where it’s 3-2, 5-4 games like this and it’s just playing for that guy beside you that’s pushing us.”

The Gulls took the series opener Sunday night in walk-off fashion at home and with its season on the line Okotoks rode solid pitching, clutch defence and a gritty attack to force the decisive Game 3 Tuesday night in Sylvan Lake.

Southpaw Graham Brunner got the start, allowing two runs over four innings, with flawless relief out of the bullpen from Garrett Maloney, Gavin Wuschke, Cade Herrmann and a dominant ninth inning from closer Ashton Luera.

The Gulls were held to seven hits on the night.

“I trust all my guys,” Luther said. “Watching Cade and Ashton, all those guys come out of the pen and our starters every night are just putting out unbelievable performances.

“It makes it easier because we know if we can three, four, they’re there behind us and holding it for us.”

Defensively, the Dawgs generated momentum at the plate in what was a low-scoring, low opportunity grind it out playoff contest.

“Me and Rick, up the middle, it gives us a lot of energy when we make plays because for us, defence is our thing,” Luther said. “When we can do that it makes us want to go harder at the plate.”

Alejandro Cazorla drove in Okotoks’ first run on a fielder’s choice in the second inning and Luther brought in Logan Grant on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Okotoks took its first lead of the game in the seventh with a pair of top of the lineup contributors combining for a two-out rally.

Luther’s double was followed by a triple to left field from Ricky Sanchez for what held up as the game-winning run.

“I know he only threw a couple of pitches to the guys in front of me, but in my mind I was going to hunt a fastball,” Luther said. “That’s what he gave me and props to Ricky, he put together an unreal at bat and punched me in.

“It really gave us the energy for those last three innings.”

The Gulls, the number-one seed in the West, return home to host Game 3 Tuesday night at Gulls Stadium. In the East Final, the Saskatoon Berries and Moose Jaw Miller Express are also headed to Game 3 on Aug. 13.

“Enjoy it for a little bit, take a deep breath and then get ready to go tomorrow,” Luther said. “I love Seaman Stadium and (the Gulls) do a good job and get their fans into it and we love playing there, it’s always a battle against these guys.

“We’re excited for the challenge.”

(Remy Greer is a journalist with the Western Wheel newspaper. This article has been published here with his permission).