NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher Diego Centella celebrates one of the 13 straight outs he recorded out of the bullpen as part of a 9-7, comeback win Friday at Athletic Park over the Regina Red Sox.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
There are few people who have more fun at Athletic Park than Diego Centella.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks reliever starts every game going up and down the dugout asking his teammates, coaches, the anthem singer and anyone in his vicinity, one question, do you love baseball?
“Just have fun and I’m always fired up, this is a fun game and we should like to play,” Centella said. “That’s something I tell everyone, you like baseball, you love baseball, let’s have some fun and love baseball because this is about giving back to baseball.”
The righty from Panama City has always ensured he carries a positive attitude around the ball park. He says it helps him keep a stable mind on the mound, just reminding himself that baseball ends some day and to enjoy it for now.
“I see guys they’re finishing their careers and that’s pretty normal, that’s going to happen at some point, either tomorrow, in a month, in a year, whatever,” Centella said. “The thing is, I just try to have fun, that’s the most important thing.”
Centella had more than enough to be positive about from his last outing, recording 13 straight outs in relief, working 4.2 innings in the Mavs’ 9-7 comeback win Friday at home over the Regina Red Sox where they scored nine unanswered for the victory.
Centella came into the game inn the fourth facing a 6-0 deficit, with one run scoring in that frame on a sacrifice play before he shut the door on the Red Sox. He had two strikeouts in the outing, his longest of this season, out pitching the entire workload he had at school this spring with Ottawa University in Kansas.
“I pitched Tuesday, and then today saying, today is not the date to be throwing hard but I just have to trust every single pitch that I had and throw with a purpose, not just throwing for throwing,” he said. “That’s one of my best outings so far and it’s just a moment where guys in the dugout are cheering you up, the fans are staying there and I’m super grateful that everybody stayed in the game. That’s what I was most proud of, every single guy after that, I was just, thank you for staying in the game.”
The lone base runner he allowed came on a walk in the eighth inning, a blemish he wore harder than if it was a hit. Centella says he believes in making every batter he faces earn their way on base.
“I just think about letting them swing, but at the moment (of a walk), don’t let that take you out of your game,” Centella said. “Keep your head up, it’s always a mental thing, and other hitters see that.”
Entering play Tuesday, with the Mavericks at Sylvan Lake taking on the Gulls, Centella has thrown 21 innings in 10 games, with 17 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA. It’s 17 more innings than he pitched at school, a lack of work he doesn’t think about when he faces older hitters. He says he’s been working on his consistency this summer while also focused on helping the Mavericks get to the playoffs.
“I like to live in the moment, just think that every outing already happened and let’s go to the next one,” Centella said. “I’m gonna celebrate it today (Friday), I’m gonna think you did a great job, but tomorrow is another day. It’s just that, I don’t let any of those previous thoughts, about those previous games, stay in my head. Next game is a new game, new hitters, new mindset. It’s just go compete, that’s all that matters.”
The pitcher’s attitude has impressed head coach Jonathon Thornhill, who enjoys watching how he attacks hitters and isn’t trying to just throw as hard as he can.
“Pitching isn’t taught the same anymore, it’s more who throws hard, but the philosophy for us, and I feel like it’s gone away from it, is that it doesn’t matter how hard you throw ball four,” Thornhill said. “Diego is a pretty accurate individual in the aspect of what he does and just going out there, fill it up with strikes, and they’re going to get themselves out.”
Centella has enjoyed the first half of the season in Medicine Hat and says it’s a unique experience pitching in front of as many fans as he has. He’s also enjoyed how much they’ve gotten to be in the community.
“Every single game at home, I just feel how people (care) and it just hugs you and that’s something that really means a lot to me,” Centella said. “When we have a day off and I’m going to Little League games, people see you and say, ‘you’re a Maverick, I saw your game, have fun.’ People just want to be part of the moment and it’s very beautiful the way this place just hooks you and it takes you in your arms.”
The Mavs opened a six-game road trip Tuesday at Sylvan Lake against the Gulls. That game was not complete by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story. They’re back at Sylvan Lake tonight before heading to Fort McMurray for a pair against the Giants on Thursday and Friday.
