By James Tubb on June 29, 2023.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks head into their first day off since June 19 on a high note. The Mavs won 3-2 at Weyburn against the Beavers Thursday to cap off their 10 game in nine day stint with a 6-4 record. Thursday’s win also gives the Mavs their first winning record on the season, sitting at 15-14. Medicine Hat entered the contest off a 11-3 victory Wednesday at Weyburn. The Mavs jumped on the scoreboard first with a run in the second inning. Left fielder Ryan Dousett knocked in a run with a RBI double for the early lead. It took blank inning before Weyburn answered back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring a run to tie the game at 1-1. Neither team added another run to their tally over the next three innings as both pitchers worked efficiently into the eighth innings. Weyburn’s Ethan Webster worked 7.1 innings with four strikeouts while allowing nine hits, two runs scored and a walk. Medicine Hat plated a run after Webster was relieved from the game for a brief 2-1 lead. Centre fielder Brody Gardner drove in a run with a RBI single. Mavs’ starter Bryce Libke was lifted in the top of the eighth inning after allowing a leadoff walk. He struck out seven batters while allowing five hits, four total walks and two runs (one earned). Kyle Calzadiaz took over on the mound and got out off the inning with a strikeout but not before Weyburn plated the leadoff walk to tie the game. In the final inning, Mavs’ right fielder Max Valdez hit a one out double to right field to put a runner in scoring position. Shortstop Tyler Vanneste stepped up to the plate with two outs and Valdez on third base after a ground out. Vanneste put the second pitch he saw into play with a ground ball to the first baseman, beating out the throw and plating the run for the 3-2 lead. Medicine Hat entered the bottom of the ninth with the one-run lead and Matt Krall on the mound looking for his second save of the season. He struck out the first batter before allowing a walk and a single to put runners on the corners with one out. A three pitch strikeout and a pop fly to first base and the Mavs’ held on for the 3-2 win. The Mavericks are off Friday with heir next action is Saturday when they host the Regina Red Sox at Athletic Park for Canada Day action. 10