NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks shortstop Blake Dale launches a 3-2 curveball for a two-run in the fourth inning of the Mavs’ 7-4 win Sunday night at Moose Jaw over the Miller Express
The Medicine Hat Mavericks picked up their first win of the season in big-fly fashion.
The Mavs had two, two-run home runs and held on for a 7-4 win Sunday at Moose Jaw over the Miller Express.
Head coach Kevin Mitchell called the win a sigh of relief.
“It felt like a big game being the second game of the year because the expectations are so high,” Mitchell said. “I’m really proud of the way the guys showed up tonight and it always feels good to get the first one out of the way on the road against these guys. Gives it a little extra, it was a great game tonight.”
After a 30-minute lightning delay, the Mavs kicked off the scoring.
Centre fielder Brody Gardner got on base with a two-out single and right fielder Jordan Phillips drove the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for the Mavs’ first home run of the season.
Moose Jaw answered back in the bottom of the frame, recording a pair of runs on two sacrifice hits.
After two scoreless innings, the Mavs got on the board in the fourth.
Infielder Tyler Vanneste got on base with a Moose Jaw error and on the sixth pitch of his at bat, shortstop Blake Dale knocked a curveball over the left-centre field fence for a 4-2 lead.
After another two inning score draught, the Mavs plated three runs for a seven-run night.
With the bases loaded, Micah Dvorak scored on a wild pitch and set up Vanneste with the bases still juiced. He drove in two runs with a hit that snuck through the second baseman’s legs.
Jacob Petersheim started the game for the Mavs and worked five innings only allowing the two runs. He had three strikeouts and gave up three walks and four hits.
Braeden Davis took over on the bump and worked three innings, striking out five batters and allowing only two hits and a run.
Tegan Melanson took over in the ninth. He recorded the first out before hitting a batter who later scored on two wild pitches. Two more Moose Jaw batters got on base before Melanson recorded a strikeout and got a deep fly out to right field to secure the win.
The Mavs (1-1) are off until Wednesday when they get their first look at the Saskatoon Berries in their home opener at Athletic Park. Before then, they host Fan Fest on Monday at AP.
”We’ve got Fan Fest tomorrow which is gonna be a ton of fun for the community and for these guys,” Mitchell said. “They get to see what it means to Medicine Hat to be a part of this ball club.”
