NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks second baseman Bret Carrell squares up a pitch in the Mavs 7-3 loss Monday night at Athletic Park against the Okotoks Dawgs.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks continue to look for their break.
The Mavs lost 7-3 Monday night at Athletic Park against the Okotoks Dawgs. Medicine Hat entered the contest off an 8-5 loss Sunday against the Regina Red Sox after losing to them on Saturday, making Monday’s defeat their third in a row. Okotoks came into Monday night riding a 10-game winning streak, sitting in first place of the WCBL.
Head coach Kevin Mitchell says Okotoks is a good ball club and the Mavericks played their game, it just didn’t go their way.
“Our guys did a good job of competing and trying to focus on ourselves, that was the big thing we talked about before the game,” Mitchell said. “I’m pretty happy with the effort, even though it wasn’t the right outcome, the big thing is giving up a crooked ending there in the third. We’ve talked about that a lot, when you give up crooked numbers of runs early in the game, it’s hard to come back from and without that four spot there, it’s a 3-3 ball game.
“So we hit a bunch of balls right into gloves, lined a bunch of balls, right into gloves. We swung it as well as they did, if not better and it’s felt like these last few days, things didn’t bounce our way and that’s baseball for you.”
Okotoks opened the scoring in the top of the first inning off starter Garrett Nicholson. Medicine Hat answered back in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly out from third baseman Nathan Tarver. After holding the Dawgs scoreless in the top of the second, the Mavs had the bases loaded but only managed a run on a fielders choice play off designated hitter Brady Bean’s bat for a tie game.
The Dawgs took over the game in the third inning, scoring four runs on five hits for a 6-2 lead. Nicholson was lifted after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out three batters. Tim Carlson took over on the mound and worked 3.1 innings with two strikeouts, while allowing one run on three hits. Nicholas Spidel worked the remaining three innings for the Mavs, striking out four while allowing a walk and four hits. Mitchell was happy with the work of both relievers holding Medicine Hat in the game.
“Not only to give us length but to keep the game manageable and give us a chance,” Mitchell said. “One big swing here, a couple of big swings and we’re right back in it. Having guys like Tim and Nick to come in and keep the game where it was, that’s all we can ask of them at that point.”
The Mavs got back on the board in the seventh inning with a RBI single from Tarver. Medicine Hat finished the night with nine runners left on base and with Okotoks leading in hits, 15-9.
The Mavs (15-17) look to get back in the win column Tuesday when they head to Regina for the first of two straight against the Red Sox. Mitchell says the last three days of losses and their success at Regina last week should have the Mavs even more motivated for the road trip.
“We played a really good day of baseball in that doubleheader, we’re evenly matched with those guys and if anything, these last three days should light a little more fire on us,” Mitchell said. “The other thing is, I think we’re due for some balls to bounce our way and I think that’s coming in the next couple of days.”
