Okotoks Dawgs Managing Director John Ircandia is a pretty big deal in baseball circles, not just here, but around North America.

He comes in at number 20 this year on the list of "Most Influential Canadians in Baseball," up two spots from last year.

Ircandia says as much as the Dawgs are loved around these parts, they're well known throughout all of baseball.

"This has become really a national phenomenon. This has not happened anywhere else. The extent of the sort of love affair between a summer collegiate team and a youth program and it's community. It's just a phenomenon! I'm very proud of it all."

Ircandia says he's still in awe of the support the organization continues to receive here at home and the fact it continues to grow year after year.