NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks infielder Nate Ade points to the sky after his home run in the Mavericks 10-8 win over the Swift Current 57's Thursday night at Athletic Park.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Medicine Hat Mavericks infielder Nate Ade’s home run Thursday night is one he will never forget.
The Davis, Calif. picked up his first home run of the season in the Mavericks’ 10-8 win over the Swift Current 57’s at Athletic Park. As special as it was for him to get his first long ball, it fell on his mother’s birthday and came five days after Ade’s aunt, Maureen Poole, passed away.
Ade said it was special to watch the ball go over the Athletic Park fence as he circled the bases and thought of his aunt.
“She was a really big, important figure in my life,” Ade said. “It’s not easy, it’s still not easy. It’s a fight every day. But you just you have to find a way to keep producing.”
Ade was greeted in the Mavericks dugout with hugs from a lot of his teammates and coaching staff, including an extended embrace with head coach Tyler Jeske.
The infielder said the Mavericks group helped him a lot as the news of her death came while the club was on the road.
“Ideally you’re with your family when something like this happens and realistically, I met this group of boys a month ago but we’ve banded together so much and they’ve been really supportive and helping me through this tough time,” Ade said.
Mavericks assistant coach Michael Forgione was the third-base coach when Ade hit his home run and he shook Ade’s hand and patted him on the back while he rounded third as he does for any Mavs home run hitter. Forgione entered the dugout while the next at-bat was going on to meet Ade again. He said the home run was a special moment to be part of.
“Over the last few days after hearing about his family, you clearly feel for the kid,” Forgione said. “I talk a lot with Nate about baseball and life, he is a hard-working man who does the right thing, and I know family means the world to him. Watching him hit that ball and run around the bases, the only thing I could do was keep softly pounding my chest and pointing at him. When he got back in the dugout I know he was greeted with a lot of big hugs.”
Forgione said he’s appreciated how Ade has played the last few games and how the group has taken care of their grieving teammate.
“This team has become really close and when one of your brothers is hurting and does something like Nate did last night, it amplifies the moment and makes the bond stronger with him and the team,” Forgione said. “Seeing how he’s been playing over the last few days, you know that someone special is watching over him and he is playing with every ounce of energy and focus that any coach could ever ask for. My thoughts will always be with Nate and his family as we continue moving forward in the summer.”
Ade and the Mavericks were in Swift Current on Friday night, though that game was not finished by press time. Visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full story. Ade will remain with the Mavericks until July 28 when he’ll take part in the WCBL all-star game, before returning home for his aunt’s funeral.
He said he called his mom after the game and she said it was the best gift he has ever gotten her. Ade had a message for his family before he could return home.
“I love my family, I’ll be home soon, stay strong.”
