NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks left fielder Austin Cappas gets under the ball in his 10th inning at bat during the Mavericks 8-7 loss to the Swift Current 57's Sudnay afternoon at Athletic Park.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks loss Sunday was a rollercoaster of ups and downs.
The Mavericks at one time led, were behind, forced and then lost in extra innings 8-7 to the Swift Current 57’s at Athletic Park.
Medicine Hat held a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh inning before Swift Current scored three to take a one run advantage. The Mavericks tied it up in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to the 10th frame with runners starting the inning on first and second.
Swift Current scored two runs in the extra innings to jump ahead. Medicine Hat had their chance to complete the win in the bottom of the frame after scoring one run to draw close. With runners on first and third and one out, designated hitter Hunter Boylan hit a hard line drive right at the 57’s pitcher who threw to first for the second out before Tory Nelson got caught in a rundown at third for the final out.
The Mavericks have hit a rough patch 17 games into their WCBL season, going 2-8 in their last 10 contests. Head coach Tyler Jeske said Sunday’s loss sums up the Mavericks latest stretch.
“This is the same old song and story that we’ve been seeing for the last two weeks. We have leads, we put up runs and we have an inability to keep runs off the scoreboard,” Jeske said. “It’s a reoccurring theme, something we have to address and really continue to work towards. At the end of the day, these are baseball games we have to win. We’re scoring well above the league average and runs and giving up well above the league averaging around as well. That’s not a good combination to have.”
Ethan Bromley started on the mound for the Mavericks and ran into trouble quick. The Calgary product allowed three runs with one strikeout in his two and a third innings work. Jack Suhai took over on the bump and worked two and a third shutout innings for his hometown team.
After allowing three runs in the first, the Mavs picked up five runs over three frames with an RBI single from shortstop Adrian Salazar in the third, a two RBI single from right fielder David Dell and a RBI double from Boylan in the fourth before left fielder Austin Cappas drove in second basemen Kellan Williamson from second with an infield hit in the fifth.
Cappas said there was some feelings of frustration after the loss but it’s something the Mavericks can learn from.
” I think every time you lose, or go down like that you kind of build from it, you learn and you take a step forward,” Cappas said. “That’s what our game plan is, take two days off, build from it and move forward.”
The Mavericks are off Monday and Tuesday before they host the Moose Jaw Miller Express Wednesday at Athletic Park for a 7:05 p.m. contest.
Jacob Prosch took over on the bump from Suhai and was trending towards only allowing one run in his two innings of work before a ground ball with two runners on in the seventh slipped under Salazar’s glove into the outfield to put Swift Current ahead 6-5.
Nate Ewing took the ball from Prosch, who had three strikeouts Sunday, and worked the last three and a third innings for the Mavericks. After Ewing held the 57’s off the board in the eighth and ninth, Salazar drove in pinch runner Josh Stark from second base in the ninth to force the extra inning.
The two Swift Current runners aboard moved up to second and third on a passed ball before both scoring on a bobbled throw to first basemen Hunter Cooper. Medicine Hat scored their one run in the bottom of the 10th before the ground out/run down for the final out.
Ewing, who struck out four in his three and third innings of work, said Sunday’s loss was an exact example of how baseball games are won and loss by the little things.
“We had everything going well throughout the inning and then one ball, one ground ball, one little thing didn’t change that game quick back, but we almost fought it back,” Ewing said. “Line drive off the foot, could have made it through and scored both those runs and that would have been it.”
The Mavericks record falls to 6-11 after Sunday’s loss as they sit in fourth of the East division. Jeske said he appreciated the 1,137 Mavericks fans in attendance and those who have stuck around during their struggles.
“I’m incredibly humbled by the fanbase. I mean, these losses are tough, it’s very apparent just how passionate baseball fans are in Medicine Hat,” Jeske said. “I’m very appreciative of their support. It’s a cloudy day, it’s Father’s Day, people have a lot of options about what they can do and they choose to come here. You look up in those stands and there’s nothing like hearing those stands roar. There’s nothing like it and (I’m) very, very appreciative.”
