Marathon loss one for the ages

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on July 20, 2019.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

Medicine Hat Mavericks head coach Tom Vessella has been around the game of baseball for some time, but he’s never experienced anything quite like Thursday’s gruelling 17-inning marathon that extended nearly two hours into Friday morning.

While the Mavericks ultimately lost the seven-hour battle when Okotoks Dawgs infielder Liam Rihela earned a bases-loaded walk to cash the go-ahead run in the top of the 17th, Vessella admits it’s a night he’ll remember for years to come.

“It just never ended,” said Vessella, whose Mavericks went on to defeat the Moose Jaw Miller Express 8-5 Friday at Athletic Park and now sit 21-20 on the WCBL season. “I’m bummed we didn’t come out with the victory after playing that long but it happens – we were on the winning end of one earlier this year.”

The game didn’t come without its bright spots, such as Freddy Walker’s RBI single in the seventh – capping off a six-run rally to force extra innings – or Bryce Libke’s standout performance against his former team.

“I was so excited for him,” Vessella said of Libke, who struck out five over two scoreless extra innings of relief work. “He came in there and just started striking everybody out. Especially coming from pitching (Wednesday) and not being as sharp as you’d think he would be, he came right back at them against the same team – his former team – and didn’t stop. He just kept attacking and attacking. That’s the mentality I hope he has. I hope that he learns from that and says ‘I have to have this approach every time I come out and pitch.'”

Vessella insists the fight his team showed in rallying to force extras against the WCBL Western-Division-leading Dawgs left them with a boost of confidence despite the result – especially considering the teams meet two more times in the regular season and could cross paths in the playoffs.

“I think that’s the more positive thing as far as confidence goes. Just because they came up doesn’t mean we can’t do it again. It doesn’t mean we’re not good enough to come back and compete,” said Vessella. “They got up early in the first inning with some fluke wind and we came back and tied it up. Then they got ahead and we came back and tied it up.”

Vessella added the marathon matchup forced him to make a few changes to Friday’s pre-game schedule ahead of their matchup against the Moose Jaw Miller Express, but it didn’t dampen his belief that they’d bounce right back.

“We went in after and the coaching staff said, “we’re proud of you guys. We’re disappointed we didn’t get the victory but I’m proud of how you guys fought and came back, so get ready to go tomorrow,” said Vessella. “The beauty of this league and this team is that there’s always another game to play. Hopefully you learn from what happened and get ready to attack.”

The Mavericks did just that, forcing their way back into the win column Friday. Starter Owen Steele picked up the win after holding Moose Jaw to five runs on seven hits through seven innings of work.

Garrett Nicholson earned the save, holding the Miller Express to one walk over the final 1 2/3.

PJ Garcia, Sal Rodriguez and Collin Klingensmith all had 2 RBI in the win.

Hunter Cooper took Thursday’s loss after walking in the winning run in the 17th. Cooper also allowed a run in the 16th on a Jaxon Valcke RBI single, but the Mavericks responded with an RBI fielder’s choice from Garcia in the home half to extend the game.

Shay Shanaman earned the win for Okotoks after holding Medicine Hat to one run on one hit over the final two innings.

Mavs catcher Colton Wright finished 4-for-9, while Garcia was 4-for-8.

Valcke was 3-for-7 with 2 RBI for the Dawgs.

The Mavericks and Miller Express return to Athletic Park Saturday at 7:05 p.m. for Superhero Night – which will donate proceeds from game-worn themed jersey sales to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and Extra Life.

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