Mavs humbled in Game 1 of WCBL championship

By Medicine Hat News on August 16, 2023.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks will be playing to keep their season alive when the Western Canadian Baseball League championship series shifts to Athletic Park tonight for Game 2.

The Mavericks fell 8-0 to the reigning champion Okotoks Dawgs in Game 1 on Tuesday at Seaman Stadium and now must win tonight to force a winner-take-all Game 3 back in Okotoks tomorrow.

Dawgs starter Graham Brunner kept the Mavs in check all night Tuesday, sending the first seven batters back to the dugout in order before Tory Nelson narrowly reached base with an infield single. Brunner then went right back to it, sending the next 10 down in succession. He went on to earn the win after holding Medicine Hat scoreless for 6 and 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Dawgs leadoff hitter Brendan Luther put Okotoks in front by driving the fourth pitch he saw over the right field fence for his league-leading third homer of the postseason.

Eric Hartman extended the Dawgs lead to 2-0 in the second on an RBI fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.

Alejandro Cazorla doubled the Dawgs lead in the third with a two-run bomb to left field. Mavericks starter Matthew Krall closed out the inning, but that was the end of his night after allowing four runs on six hits and a walk with one strikeout.

The Dawgs kept piling on in the fourth. Logan Grant stretched the lead to five with an RBI single, then Trent Lenihan doubled in another run. Mavs pitcher Garrett Nicholson then walked in a run with the bases loaded before striking out two straight to escape the inning.

Medicine Hat’s defence finally posted a zero to the board in the fifth with Nicholson on the hill, but the Mavs went on to strand five runners over the next two innings.

The Dawgs struck again in the sixth on an RBI double from Eric Machej.

The Mavericks will look to extend the series in Game 2, tonight at 7:05 p.m.

Game notes: Tuesday’s ceremonial first pitch was thrown by NHL goaltender Adin Hill, who won the Stanley Cup this year with the Vegas Golden Knights; Dawgs third baseman Connor Crowson reached base in all five of his plate appearances with three hits and two walks; All nine Dawgs hitters reached base in the win; Okotoks could become the league’s first back-to-back champion since the Regina Red Sox won in 2011 and 2012.

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