2019 has been another successful summer for the Okotoks Dawgs Academy.

The 18U teams returned from the National Championship in Indianapolis last week, where the Black team made their way to the semi-finals.

Dawgs Academy General Manager Tyler Hollick says the academy has seen sustained success in the last few years.

"We're fortunate enough to have a 100 per cent graduation rate since 2009," Hollick said.

That means every graduate of the program has been able to play baseball at the collegiate level.

Graduates of the program have also been receiving a tremendous amount of financial support from the colleges who bring them on. He says that players have been granted over $1.3 million in scholarships over the last three years.

Hollick credits tournaments like the National Championship as a huge boost to the Dawgs Academy players, who get an opportunity to play in front of a number of scouts.

"When they get down there and get an opportunity to play in front of a new set of eyes and really expose themselves to that level it's a huge benefit to them," he said.

The other benefit for the players, according to Hollick, is the high level of competition when they travel to tournaments.

"They're playing against better players, and they get to elevate their game and see where they're at, and if they're really not that far off," he said.

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