Mavericks fuelled throughout season in many different ways

By JAMES TUBB on August 5, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks have utilized a lot of different ways to stay energized the WCBL season.

Coffee is obviously a go-to, whether it’s pre-game trips to Starbucks where Mavericks with cars take a couple passengers, or simply get it at Athletic Park.

Energy drinks are also a must have for the Mavericks, as some starters will nurse a can for the duration of a game, while others while chug it before the first pitch. Starting pitcher Garrett Nicholson carries around a jug of water, which he drinks to remain hydrated throughout his starts.

Like a lot of baseball players, the Mavericks go through a large amount of sunflower seeds. But the brand of seeds they consume, ChaCha, may be new to a lot of fans.

Hunter Boylan and Gerrit Erickson are credited for bringing the seeds from Chico State University, specifically the coconut flavoured ones, and introducing them to their teammates.

Erickson would not take credit but tee’d up one of his teammates in Chico for introducing him to the brand.

“In Chico we played with some Hawaiian guys and the Hawaiian guys told us about the seeds. So he brought them to Chico and he was Hunter’s roommate,” Erickson said. “They would order them together and we would all eat them. Then we were at the gas station here and they’re like, ‘oh my god, they have the seeds here.’ Now we have the whole team eating the coconut seeds. They’re honestly the best seeds ever.”

The ChaCha brand is Mongolian and offers up eight flavours of the steamed and roasted sunflower seeds: pepper, spiced, plain, sea salt, pecan, jumbo, caramel and the Mavs’ favourite, coconut.

Boylan said once they found them in the gas station he has seen them around the city. He jokingly took credit for their import to Canada.

“I’ve seen them everywhere, everyone on the team has them. I think, if I’ve brought anything here it’s been the seeds,” Boylan said. “I didn’t think they were here at all in Canada until I brought them and then everyone was like, ‘wow, these are legit.’ Now they’re in every store. I should definitely say something to them (the stores).”

Boylan and the Mavericks were in action Thursday night in Medicine Hat as they hosted the Weyburn Beavers at Athletic Park. A win Thursday would clinch a spot in the WCBL playoffs for the Mavericks as they hold the fourth and final spot heading into the contest, sitting four wins ahead of the Beavers. That contest was not completed by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story.

The Mavericks are back in action Friday when they host the Beavers for a rematch of their Thursday contest, that game gets underway at 7:05 p.m.