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Two wins, 40 runs scored and one big message to the rest of the Western Canadian Baseball League.

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The Okotoks Dawgs aren’t taking prisoners in their quest for a fourth Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy in five seasons and redemption after missing out in last year’s playoffs.

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The Dawgs completed a two-game sweep of the Energy City Cactus Rats with a 16-6 rout at Seaman Stadium on Saturday, one night after a 24-7 beatdown to begin the West Division semifinal.

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In Game 2, Okotoks had the chance to strike first, with Energy City playing as the ‘home’ team after construction of its Spruce Grove ballpark forced the club on the road for the post-season.

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And the Dawgs took advantage by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning.

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The Cactus Rats battled back with four of their own in the third, and tied it up in the fourth inning.

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Then Okotoks pulled away for good, with two runs in the fifth, another five in the seventh inning, and four in the eighth.

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The Cactus Rats could only counter with one run in the fifth inning before the Dawgs’ pitchers shut the door.

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Like the opener, several Dawgs feasted at the plate in Game 2. But this time, they played small ball — 15 of their 17 hits were singles — and took advantage of four Energy City errors.

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Ricky Sanchez, Jordan Kievman and Eric Machej recorded three hits and scored two runs apiece.

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Sanchez and Kievman both drove in two runs, while Machej added one RBI. Sanchez also drew a walk.

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Landon Kauffman went 2-of-3 with two RBI, three runs scored, two walks and a stolen base.

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Matt Evans tallied two hits, two runs scored, one RBI and a walk.

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Nash Crowell hit a two-run double, scored twice, drew two free passes and stole a base.

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On the mound, Okotoks starter Evan Lehnert gave up five runs on six hits over 3.1 innings with two strikeouts and three walks.

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Dalton Hoffart came on in relief in the fourth inning and got two outs without surrendering a run.

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Emmet Stacher then worked two innings of one-run ball.

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He was followed by Reid Madariaga, Brody Burnett and Logan Rumberg, who each delivered a scoreless inning to close out the series sweep.

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The Dawgs, who earned the President’s Trophy and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as regular-season champs, next face the winner of the Sylvan Lake Gulls-Lethbridge Bulls series.

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That West semifinal is headed to a deciding Game 3 on Sunday after the Bulls bounced back with a 10-3 victory in Game 2.

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It was the Gulls who knocked out the Dawgs in the division final last year, ending Okotoks’ run after three straight league titles.

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Sylvan Lake went on to drop the championship final to Regina.

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Those Red Sox are now also going to a Game 3 on Sunday after defeating the Saskatoon Berries 5-3.

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In the other East semifinal, the top-seeded Moose Jaw Miller Express eliminated the Medicine Hat Mavericks in 12-5 fashion.

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