When the Cleats Come Off: Ricky Sanchez’s Next Chapter

Ricky Sanchez came to Okotoks from Mexico City at just 15 years old with very little English, a love for baseball and a dream he was determined to pursue.

In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Ricky shares the story of leaving his family in Mexico to join the Dawgs Academy, attending Holy Trinity Academy and continuing his baseball career through several American colleges, including Gonzaga University.

We talk about the challenges he faced along the way, the lessons he learned and the people who supported him. Ricky also looks back on winning three championships with the Okotoks Dawgs, the friendships he formed and the special connection he developed with the fans.

Ricky has certainly made a lasting impact on the Dawgs organization and the Okotoks community—but Okotoks has made just as great an impact on him. What began as a place to pursue baseball has become home. As his playing career comes to an end, Ricky plans to remain in Canada, put down roots in Okotoks and hopefully help develop the next generation of players through coaching.

This is a heartfelt conversation about baseball, sacrifice, family, community and finding a home far away from where your journey began.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to the Okatokes podcast, where the stories are as solid as the Big Rock. Sponsored by Carlin Lutzer Real Estate.

SPEAKER_02 0:22

Today's guest has become much more than just a baseball player here in Okotox. He has become part of the community. Ricky Sanchez grew up in Mexico City and began playing baseball when he was only three years old. The age of 15, he made the incredible difficult decision to leave his family, move to Okotoks, and pursue his dream with the Okotoks Dogs Academy. When Ricky first arrived, he spoke very little English, but through hard work, determination, and a genuine love for the game, he found a second home here in Okotoks. His baseball journey has taken him from Holy Trinity Academy to college programs across the United States, including Barton Community College, Pittsburgh State, and Gonzaga University. Along the way, he became a WCBL most valuable player, helped the Dogs win multiple championships, and developed into one of the top defensive shortstops in college baseball. But for the Dogs fans, Ricky's story is about much more than statistics or championships. It's about the energy he brings to the field, the way he treats the fans, his teammates, and the love he clearly has for the organization in this community. Today we talk about the sacrifices behind that journey, the people who helped him along the way, his favorite memories as an Okadok's dog, and what life may look like when he finally hangs up the cleats. Ricky, thanks for joining me today.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

I got you guys. Thank you for having me. Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 2:04

This is our first road show, and we thought we'd do the first roadshow with a local celebrity to Okatokes.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

Ricky, when did you first come to Okatokes? I came here 2017. That would be my grade 10 year, and I attended uh HTA and obviously the Ducks Academy.

SPEAKER_02 2:22

Yes, for sure. Now, how was that coming? Because you're from Mexico, Mexico City. Uh, how was that leaving home for the first time?

SPEAKER_01 2:31

Uh, you know, it was uh pretty tough. Like um definitely hard at the start. You know, like there was a little bit of like a language barrier in there. Couldn't communicate at the start, like everything was like yes, no, and just like pointing at stuff like me and Fernando, one of the coaches here, won it. Uh, but uh, you know, it's like I didn't get to grow up with my parents, so that was pretty tough. But um, everything I did was just for the love of the game, you know. I mean, it was tough, but now that I've been doing it so much, I get used to it. Don't get me wrong, I still miss my parents all the time, but you get used to it. Well, you know, the thing is, Ricky, uh, I know a few of your teachers.

SPEAKER_02 3:11

Uh, you and because did your brother did he go through HDA as well? He did he went to HDA as well. Yeah, for sure. And I know that the teachers just think the world of you and your brother, right? And uh, you know, this whole organization just thinks the world of you, and uh, you know, we're super sad that this is your last year.

SPEAKER_01 3:28

No, I know, I'm pretty sad too, but at some point you just gotta hang the cleats, you know.

SPEAKER_02 3:33

Yeah, so so what's what's the the next steps for Ricky? What does life look for you after this season?

SPEAKER_01 3:40

Well, after here, um I'm planning I'm I'm I'm planning to stay in Canada. I have a girl here, and um she's awesome, and then um I'm I'm applying for a work visa and then hopefully I'm gonna be coaching for a little bit, you know. I love the game, so I gotta help kids make the better choices that I could have done back in my college career. Are you coaching here or do you know somewhere else that you're gonna be coaching? No, definitely if I coach, it will be here. There's not a better place than the Ducks Academy. That's awesome to hear. Now, you played your college years, you were in Washington. The only the only thing I would I would have done different for my college career was transferring a lot, but I mean, God had a plan for me, so I'm here because that plan as well, too. So I started in uh Crowther, it was a junior college in Niorsha, Missouri, and I went to Barton. Love Juco. Like, if if I'm uh telling the kids I I'll tell them to go to junior college, is I mean, it's the best experience I ever had. You go through it with your boys, and then those boys are gonna be your brothers forever. And then I went to Pit State and then Gonzaga.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

Right, okay, okay. No, and Ricky, we know that we've watched you here for years, and the thing about you is you know you love the game, and you also love the fans as well, and you just love your teammates and everything. And we are uh yeah, we're gonna miss you a part of the dogs lineup next year for sure.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

Yeah, I'm gonna miss it too, man. I mean, a lot of my teammates this year, they're like, dude, you're old, like, why are you playing Summer Bowl? And I'm like, dude, you just you guys just don't get it. Like, that place is like awesome. The fans love me and everything. I mean, and the fans just make it way better. Like, that's what I keep coming back here. I never went to play in another summer, Summer Bowl league. So I love this place, and then I give my everything to this place.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Oh, and it's and it's so true you do. Like, I think of some of your uh plays that you've made, uh, you know, with the double plays, just seeing you running across the field, tapping second, and then whipping the ball to first. I see that play, you doing that play many times in my mind. But uh looking back at your career here in Okatokes with the dogs, what's what are a couple of highlights that you have that come to your mind as soon as I ask you that question?

SPEAKER_01 6:00

Well, definitely winning the three P winning three championships is not easy in every single sport and uh with it here, so that's really it's pretty damn cool.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

Oh, yeah, absolutely. No, that was that was truly amazing. Uh what about the the people, like uh, you know, the the billets and the fans and what are the things that you look back that you're grateful for?

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Oh yeah, what like another thing that I should say is like obviously I'm gonna miss like playing, but uh whatever I'm gonna miss the most is definitely like the host families, the fans, and just being just being hanging out with my boys the whole pretty much the whole summer. Like the boss rides, they're pretty fun. They don't sound excited, but I mean we make them fun. That's what I'm gonna be missing the most. Like, obviously, like I'm gonna miss being playing sure stuff for you guys, but I just the teammates, the fans, that's what you're gonna miss the most for sure.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

Yeah, I know. And you know, as we and my family, we follow the dogs quite closely. We've come to a few playoff games. We uh, you know, in the next few days, we're gonna jump on the road with you guys as well, depending on where you go. But I think uh every once in a while a player comes along, and the next season there's a big hole in everybody's hearts, and I know the hole that you're gonna leave in the fans' hearts is absolutely huge because of not just your play, Ricky, but it's also who you are as a person. And so thank you very much.

SPEAKER_01 7:27

Thank you guys. I mean, it's been awesome like playing here in Okotoks. That's what I call my home now, and um, yeah, I'm gonna miss you too, guys. I'm gonna miss you guys a lot next year, but I'm sure you guys are gonna get pretty cool players next year.

SPEAKER_02 7:40

For sure. Well, Ricky, thank you again. Thanks for your time this afternoon, right before you double header here at the uh beautiful Siemens Stadium. Now, okay, last question. How does the stadium rate amongst other stadiums that you played in?

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Um, honestly, I play at a lot like different stadiums and even like college level, like this is like a minor league stadium. Like this place is just sweet. It doesn't compare to any other field. No, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 8:07

No, we're certainly grateful for the stadium. We're uh certainly grateful for you. And I and I know that I speak on the behalf of many dogs fans, Ricky. We're gonna we're gonna miss you, but we're so pleased to hear that you're gonna be a part of the organization. So thanks again for your time.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

Thank you guys for having me, and then I'm gonna miss you. But uh, I'll see you in this, I'll see you in the stance next year for sure.

SPEAKER_02 8:28

Thank you, Ricky.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

Thank you guys. Have a great day. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 8:34

Ricky's story is a wonderful example of how a person can make an impact on a community, and how that community can have just as great an impact on them. Over the years, Ricky has become much more than an Okatokes dogs baseball player. Through his energy on the field, his connection with the fans, and the way he carries himself away from the ballpark, he has become someone this community has truly embraced. But it's clear that Okotokes has also become much more than the place where Ricky played baseball. It has become home. This is where he found lifelong friendship, host families who welcomed him, teammates who became brothers, and a community that supported him every step of the way. Now, as his playing career comes to an end, Ricky plans to remain in Canada, put down roots here in Okatoks, and hopefully give back to the next generation through coaching with the Dogs Academy. Ricky, thank you for everything you have given this community. We are certainly going to miss watching you play, but we are grateful that this isn't goodbye. It's simply the beginning of your next chapter here in Okatoks. Thank you for joining me for another episode of the Okatokes Podcast. Take care, everyone.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

That's it for today's episode of the Okatokes Podcast. Big thanks to Carlin Lutzer Real Estate for making it happen. And thanks to you for listening.