Mavs finally wrap up busy stretch, hovering .500

By JAMES TUBB on June 30, 2023.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks hope the eighth time is the charm when it comes to owning a winning record.

The Mavs’ 11-3 win Wednesday at Weyburn against the Beavers put them at 14-14 on the season. Thursday’s game at Weyburn, the last of a stretch of 10 in nine days, marks the eighth time Medicine Hat has climbed back to .500, after starting the season 0-3. In all seven previous attempts to go a game up, the team has been met with a loss (or two).

Head coach Kevin Mitchell says he hasn’t brought that up with the team on this trip, only because the last couple of times they did, it obviously didn’t work out. But he says it was a discussion the players have had and a goal they’re looking to achieve.

“It’s one of those humps, once we get past it will be more of a relief than the guys realize,” Mitchell said. “Because it feels like a bit of a mental hurdle for whatever reason that we have come to this point so many times in the last few weeks. This would be just the perfect way to end this long stretch here, being above .500, going into a day off and then back at home for Canada Day.

The Mavs are off today, their first off day since June 19, before hosting the Regina Red Sox at Athletic Park for a Canada Day affair. Having the end in sight of that long stretch of games is exciting for Mitchell and his team as they await that needed and deserved day off. But until the Mavericks’ bus pulls up to Athletic Park Friday morning, the coach says the focus remains on the field.

“Something we talked about Wednesday was after playing so well and this being the last game of this long stretch, is to be on let-down alert,” Mitchell said. “I asked them to come out with a little extra juice Thursday and avoid any kind of looking ahead to the day off. Reminding them we have to take care of business before we get that day off.”

Thursday’s game at Weyburn also wraps up the Mavs’ mini four-game Saskatchewan road trip that includes Tuesday’s doubleheader in Regina, which they split with the Red Sox. Mitchell says pitching has carried the team over the road trip and he’s enjoyed the brand of baseball they’ve been playing.

“We’ve thrown a ton of strikes, our defence has been super solid, especially Wednesday night, we hit situationally really, really well,” Mitchell said. “Obviously in Regina we didn’t score a bunch of runs, they had some good pitchers out there and we had plenty of guys on base and couldn’t always cash them in. But even still, they battled all day long for two games, especially after losing that first one. Coming back out half an hour later, on a long day, toward the end of the trip – they were awesome and the energy was great.”

Whether the Mavs finally break that .500 barrier and return to the Hat with a winning record, Mitchell wants to continue seeing his team pulling for one another in success and defeat.

“There’s been a lot of that where, good or bad, players are picking each other up, and that is a sign of the closeness of this team,” Mitchell said. “When everybody’s pulling in the same direction, it makes everyone better. So I just want to see that continue.”

Thursday’s game was not complete by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story.

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