NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks outfielder Braden DeSonia admires a hit during the Mavericks 7-0 loss to the Regina Red Sox at Athletic Park on July 6.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Mavericks will be well represented at the WCBL’s all-star game this weekend.
The Mavericks are sending six representatives to the mid-season classic hosted in Okotoks on Saturday. Pitchers Nate Ewing, Isaiah Bartels and Hunter Cooper are joined by infielders Nate Ade and Kellen Williamson and outfielder Braden DeSonia.
Ade said he was honoured when he was informed of the selection.
“I honestly didn’t know if I did well enough but to see my name on that sheet when they handed it out, that was that was really special,” Ade said. The Davis, Calif. product is hitting .286 on the season with 22 RBIs.
Williamson said it’s nice to see the hard work paying off but is looking forward to getting back into games to help get the Mavericks wins after the all-star contest.
“My goal is still to win a lot of games so it’s not much about making an all-star game as it is about trying to secure some more wins on the playoff push,” The Missouri product is hitting .311 with 24 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in Mavs red.
DeSonia will be representing the Mavericks in the home run derby that kicks off the all-star festivities at 5 p.m. followed by the game at 7:05 p.m. He is excited for the opportunity and will have family in attendance for the game and to celebrate his birthday on Sunday. DeSonia said he’s asked if his father Rob can pitch to him in the home run derby but did not have an answer yet.
“I’ve never really been a big like home run guy,” DeSonia said about the derby. “It’ll be interesting to try, I’m just gonna have fun, try to have a good time.”
DeSonia has been a big part of the Mavericks’ offence this season, as he leads the club with 27 stolen bases, 30 RBIs, five home runs and has appeared in all 42 games.
Bartels said he is looking forward to meeting his competitors and learn more about the game and how other guys pitch. He said he’s glad to see there’s five other Mavericks representing the club at the game.
“This team, it’s a fun team, and it’s been it’s a good group of guys,” Bartels said.
Bartels sits third on the Mavericks in innings pitched with 34 and first in strikeouts with 35.
Both Cooper and Ewing have played both sides of the baseball for the Mavericks this season and kicked around the idea of trying the same in the all-star contest. Cooper said he wanted to get his average over .300 before he asked (it’s at .305), while it is a priority for Ewing.
“I’m going to try and see if they’d let me but either way I’d be happy just pitching,” Ewing said. “Being in the all-star game in the WCBL, it’s crazy to begin with. So if I get to do both, that’d be awesome.”
Cooper said making it to that contest was one of his goals when he returned to the Mavs.
“My first ever season of summer ball I made the all-star team and this is my last one with an all-star team again, so it’s kind of cool to book-end it like that,” Cooper said.
Ewing has filled the role of Mavericks closer, picking up two saves on the year and two home runs at the plate. Cooper started the year in the bullpen and has since moved into a starter’s role while also playing first base on nights off.
Mavericks head coach Tyler Jeske said he’s looking forward to watching his guys in the game and seeing their handwork pay off.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience for them,” Jeske said Wednesday after a 6-3 loss to the Moose Jaw Miller Express at Athletic Park. “They’ve worked extremely hard all summer and you can say they worked extremely hard throughout the year beyond just their time in Medicine Hat to earn this type of opportunity… It’s going to be cool to just let those guys go have some fun, interact with guys from other teams and hopefully they gain something from that experience and bring it back to the rest of the guys.”
