NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher/first basemen Hunter Cooper swings at a pitch in the bottom of the tenth inning Tuesday night against the Okotoks Dawgs. The Mavericks allowed three runs in the tenth and lost 6-4.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks got their first taste of losing Tuesday night.
After leading 3-1 for five innings, the Mavericks allowed two runs in the sixth and lost 6-4 in the 10th inning to the Okotoks Dawgs at Athletic Park.
When the 10th inning began the Mavericks P.A. announcer informed the crowd, and some of the players and coaches on the field, that the inning would start with runners on first and second with no outs. Okotoks was able to capitalize in their half of the 10th scoring three runs while the Mavericks were limited to one.
Medicine Hat head coach Tyler Jeske did not have a stance on the International rules the WCBL adapted this season for extra innings and said the rules are the rules.
“They’re the same for both teams and they still had to execute, they still had to get a bunt down,” Jeske said. “We tried to get a bunt down, you still have to execute. Hit the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball. It’s tough to play winning baseball, no matter who’s on base.”
Both the Dawgs and Mavericks entered Tuesday’s contest with 3-0 records on the early season. After picking up their first defeat of the season, Jeske said they weren’t going to go 58-0 and he was pleased with their starting pitcher Garrett Nicholson.
“(He) was outstanding and he gave us exactly what we wanted, what we needed, what we’re looking to get out of him throughout the season,” Jeske said. “I think it sets the tone, our pitching has really set the tone and Isaiah Bartels pitched extremely well, all night. ”
Nicholson pitched six innings with three strikeouts while allowing three runs on five hits. Bartels came in from the bullpen in the sixth and had four innings of work with three strikeouts and three runs scored on three hits. The Luverne, Minn product picked up the loss out of the ‘pen in his second appearance of the young season.
Hunter Boylan led the Mavericks offence Tuesday night, with a three run home run to right field in the bottom of the second. The Simi Valley, Calif. product was down in the count 1-2 before he drove the ball over the fence.
“I just wanted to get a ball in the middle and shorten the bat,” Boylan said. “I got some good bat speed on it and I found it, it was nice.”
Adrian Salazar also had a strong night offensively, collecting three hits and a walk. The Mavericks did not help their cause throughout the game, stranding 12 runners on the bases. Jeske tipped his hat to the Dawgs for limiting their base stealing game.
“You have to tip your cap to their pitchers and their catcher for shutting the running game down and making it tough to try to generate some offence on our own,” Jeske said.
The Mavs head coach said his message to his players after the game was to make sure they take care of business in their own division.
“They’re in the West Division, we’re in the East Division, the pathway to the playoffs is not winning, or losing one game to a team in the other division,” Jeske said. “It comes down to we’ve got to take care of business, the East Division and we’re gonna have that opportunity again, coming up this weekend and go from there.”
The Mavericks(3-1) have an off day Wednesday before they head to Brooks to take on the Bombers on Thursday. They return to Medicine Hat for a two game stint at Athletic park against the Moose Jaw Miller Express on Friday and Saturday.
