The Okotoks Outlaws are provincial champions.

They took home gold at the Alberta 18U AA Tier I Provincial Championship over the Heritage Day long weekend.

Okotoks' run up to the final saw decisive wins over the Camrose Cougars (7-1), Olds Spitfires (14-7), Stettler Storm (10-6), and Grande Prairie Reds (5-2) before a dramatic gold medal match.

They ended up facing the Black Gold 47's out of Leduc for the gold medal game, and head coach Jeff Raknerud says it couldn't have come down to a more fitting showdown.

"They were certainly our rival all year, with us going 0-2 against them the only two other times we faced them. It was nice to get our first victory in the final."

That victory ended up being quite a nail-biter.

"The final itself was a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh, so it was about as close as it can get. All through the game it was the lead changing hands a few times, tying it up, I think in the fifth inning, and walking it off in the bottom of the seventh for the victory, so it was a pretty dramatic, pretty exciting win."

Raknerud saw the boys really come together for the big win.

"As coaches, we've always preached of that team mentality and this team is, for the first time where I've been involved, that really bought into that wholeheartedly. Just a really good club that had each other's back at every positive and negative part of the season. It was nice to see."

He says the win was thanks to effort from every single person involved.

"A big thanks to all the coaches, Jason King and Drew Reynolds, as well as the manager and treasurer, Tammy King and Sheri Raknerud. Also, a big thanks to the parent group for all the support this year. All in, this was a pretty tight-knit group, from players, to coaches, to parents. A big thanks and a big congratulations to everybody."

 

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