Ryan Ladika/MDN Ethan Moore trots home after slugging the first of his two home runs to lead Souris Valley to a 20-7 victory over the Pierre Trappers June 30.

When Souris Valley Sabre Dogs head coach Alex Miklos and his staff were assembling their squad for the 2021 season, they were in search of young talent chomping at the bit for playing time to hone their craft, as well as players who could provide the organization with dynamic talent that could lead to plenty of scoring chances offensively.

Halfway through the campaign, it is quite safe to say they went above and beyond in accomplishing their goal.

The Sabre Dogs mashed their way through the first half of the 2021 season, boasting one of the Expedition League’s top offensive corps en route to a 22-9 record through their first 31 games, locking up a 2021 postseason berth in the process with their first-place finish in the league’s official first half.

“The most impressive portion of the first half was our offensive ability to put up runs,” Miklos said. “I know we purposely brought in a young group of players looking to gain experience, and to get at-bats throughout the summer. We’ve done a really good job handling the strike zone, being disciplined in the strike zone, and we’ve taken a lot of free passes through the first portion of the season.”

Entering play July 7, the Sabre Dogs are averaging just over 10 runs per game, and their 363 total runs are good for the top spot in the Expedition League, 55 more than second-place Fremont’s 308. The team also ranks in the top three in the league in hits, doubles, RBI, total bases, stolen bases, on-base percentage and batting average.

The squad has accomplished the assembly of such impressive offensive marks by scouring the country not necessarily for bona fide home run threats, as Souris Valley has hit only 23 long balls in its 36 games, but for young talent that possesses quality contact skills and the ability to get on base consistently.

This philosophy is best exemplified by leadoff hitter Cadyn Schwabe. The Thompson, North Dakota native led the league with his robust .473 average entering play July 7 and had struck out just 11 times in his first 34 games. He has produced 17 multi-hit contests, including three four-hit games, and has wreaked havoc on the basepaths as well with 40 stolen bases in 44 tries.

“Schwabe’s been the catalyst for our offense this entire season,” Miklos said. “It seems like he’s seeing six to eight pitches in the first at-bat, and he’s an extremely patient hitter. He puts the ball in play a ton, he draws a lot of walks, he doesn’t strike out much, and he’s an absolute menace on the basepaths. It changes the dynamic of the game every time he’s on base.”

Sabre Dogs fans have also been treated to the impressive offensive exploits of first baseman Beau Brewer. The corner infielder exploded onto the scene in the Magic City, earning at least one hit in each of his first 31 games before his chase for Joe DiMaggio’s MLB-record 56-gamer in 1941 died with an 0-for-3 showing against Pierre July 1.

He still earned a pair of walks that night to continue his on-base streak, which reached 34 consecutive games until an 0-for-4 night at the plate July 6.

“Beau doesn’t get away from his approach,” Miklos added. “He keeps it really simple, and both those guys, what stands out is they’re very efficient with two strikes. There’s not a whole lot of swing-and-miss there, and they put together competitive at-bats. They put the ball in play with two strikes to make the defense make a play.”

Souris Valley’s offense has more than made up for the team’s shortcomings on the mound, as Sabre Dogs pitchers have recorded a 6.60 earned run average with a .276 batting average-against in their first 36 games of the season.

Miklos chalked up the struggles to get opposing hitters out to, again, the relative youth of the staff and its hunger to improve at their respective positions. Walks have been an issue for the staff as well, as the Dogs have issued 246 free passes to this point, and Miklos has seen many of his hurlers nibbling the edges of the strike zone.

Throughout the remainder of the season, he will be looking for his pitchers to gain more confidence in pitching with more aggression and pounding the strike zone. As a result of the walks, the team has run into issues with players’ quickly-rising pitch counts. Throwing more strikes and looking to induce quick contact will, Miklos hopes, lead to more efficient at-bats and earning quicker outs.

Throughout the remainder of the season, a stretch that includes a daunting 15-game road trip, Miklos will be looking for his team to hold true to its established identity, and perhaps experience a bit of growth on the mound, as the club gears up for its mid-August postseason berth. With Schwabe and Brewer’s formidable punch at the top of the lineup leading the charge, the Dogs are in good shape.