NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks first baseman Evan Morrison rounds third for home after hitting a three-run home run in the Mavs' 19-6 win Tuesday at Athletic Park over the Weyburn Beavers.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
It’s not Evan Morrison’s first summer of baseball in Medicine Hat but it’s the stretch when he’s felt the most comfortable.
The local product, manning first base for the Mavericks, has taken a step in his second season in the red and white. Just five games over the halfway mark of the season, Morrison has already surpassed his totals from last year, his first in the WCBL.
Entering play Wednesday, with the Mavs hosting the Weyburn Beavers at Athletic Park, the former Medicine Hat Moose Monarch has 32 hits, 23 runs scored, nine home runs and 28 RBIs in 31 games. His nine home runs this season lead the WCBL.
“It’s just sticking to my approach, really staying short to the ball, being a team guy in the box, and it’s been just working out for me so far,” Morrison said about his success at the plate.
He’s carrying the hottest bat in the WCBL, with four home runs and 13 RBIs in his last four games, capped off with a three-run home run in the Mavs’ 19-6 win Tuesday at AP over the Beavers. That home run was his third three-run blast in that stretch, the forth home run a grand slam in an 11-10 win at Energy City over the Cactus Rats. He also had one of his three three-run home runs in that game.
Morrison says a team-first approach has helped him find individual success, while also putting in the work between the chalk lines.
“It’s just the extra work, getting the extra reps every day definitely makes a difference,” Morrison said. “It’s just keeping the feel. When you’re hot, you just keep the feel as long as you can, don’t think about it too much and good things will happen.”
His head coach has been impressed with the steps Morrison has taken so far this summer. Skipper Jonathon Thornhill says the 6-foot-3 slugger has made an adjustment in the box, ensuring his stance is closer so he can get to the inside pitch.
Thornhill says he sees a relaxed approach from Morrison when he’s at his best, a very familiar sight right now.
“He’s calm, takes a deep breath and just allows him to be himself and as we’ve talked about all season with any body, when you’re allowing yourself to be yourself, you’re allowing your skills to take over, just be fluid and free and having fun and enjoying it,” Thornhill said. “Then the results come like they do, so it’s fun to watch. When you have Evan doing what he’s doing at the seventh spot in the order, like that in the lineup (Tuesday), it just brings in the eight, nine, and if it brings it back to the top, it’s good stuff.”
Morrison says he’s feeling good at the plate in this stretch, also enjoying himself more this summer. Not that he didn’t last year, his first time finally donning the Mavs’ colours, but he says it’s become easier this summer.
“It’s definitely a lot more fun, less pressure it feels like, or I’m just kind of embracing it more,” Morrison said. “I just feel relaxed this summer, a lot more relaxed and I’m just feeling good.”
Morrison and the Mavs hosted the Beavers on Wednesday in a game that was not complete by press time. See medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story.
He was one of three Mavericks to homer in Tuesday’s win. Utilityman Adam Vulcano blasted his second home run of the season, centre fielder Jeremy Freeman Jr. belted his first WCBL home run to centre field, a two-run blast that hit the berm.
Starter Xander Roberts recorded a quality start in the win, allowing just two runs in six innings pitched with five strikeouts.
Weyburn committed eight errors in the loss, including two on a passed ball that saw three Mavs’ runners score.
The Mavs host the Moose Jaw Miller Express tonight in a makeup game for the rainout on June 21. Fans who had ticket for the June 21 game can redeem them for Thursday’s game.
They’ll continue the homestead with two more games at Athletic Park, hosting the Swift Current 57’s on Friday before Moose Jaw returns on Saturday.
