NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher Brett Getz delivers a pitch in the Mavs 5-1 loss Sunday at Athletic Park to the Weyburn Beavers.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Brett Getz got a taste of the Western Canadian Baseball League last season and is now enjoying the local flair.
The Medicine Hat product is suiting up for his second summer of WCBL action, getting his first chance to play for his childhood team, the Mavericks.
He’s pitched in three games so far, accumulating 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts and a 2.84 earned run average. Making his Mavs debut on June 2 was a nerve-wracking moment but a dream come true, he says.
“I was a little nervous, I’m not gonna lie, I was excited though,” Gets said “I was very excited, I had family in the stands watching and it was great to be here finally, I’ve been wanting to do it for my whole life and I finally accomplished that dream.”
Getz made his WCBL debut last season as a member of the Brooks Bombers, throwing 39.1 innings with 30 strikeouts and a 6.18 ERA. He made one start against his hometown team last season, in a 7-2 Mavs win on June 17, 2023.
He says the previous experience in the WCBL helped him by seeing that next level of hitter, which he says helped him fix his pitch repertoire.
Now donning the red and white, the 18-year-old Getz says he’s enjoyed the early moments of the season and picking up what he can from his older teammates.
“I’ve been getting to learn a lot from all these guys in college and getting to know my role a little bit in being the young guy again,” Getz said. “It’s been awesome, they’re a good group of guys, everyone’s meshing together, it’s been really good so far.”
Getz says he picks the brains of his teammates whenever he can, especially senior and fellow left-handed pitchers in Josh Landry and John Walsh.
“It’s been great, they are all great to me, which is nice,” Getz said.
Getz has had a unique experience to start the season, splitting his time between Medicine Hat with the Mavs and returning to Lethbridge to finish his schooling at Vauxhall Academy. He travels back and forth as much as possible, being available in Medicine Hat during the weekends and through the week whenever he can.
“It gets to be a little bit of a grind,” Getz said. “Kind of losing a little sleep but it’s awesome, man. I just, I love baseball, that’s what I want to do. So you have to enjoy the grind and keep on going.”
Getz has committed to play DI baseball in the fall at Sacramento State University. He says this summer will only help him as he gets ready for his freshman season.
“Facing the better hitters obviously will work, they’re at the college level and they’ve seen all types of pitches,” Getz said. “So if you’re able to get those guys out, it just helps me move forward and builds my confidence up for the fall.”
Getz says the amount he’s pitched early in the Mavs’ season, and the situations he’s been used in, gives him confidence in himself, and a sense of trust with the coaching staff.
“I’m glad that the coaches rely on me a little bit, and it makes me feel like I’m wanted,” Getz said. “It’s awesome, I get put in these tough spots and they’ll make me better. Even if I don’t perform how I want to, it’ll still make me better so I can learn for the next outing.”
The Mavs are on the road for a three-game road trip that started Wednesday at Saskatoon against the Berries. That game was not complete by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story.
They’re back at Saskatoon on Thursday before heading to Regina to face the Red Sox on Friday. The Mavs return to Medicine Hat and Athletic Park for a two-game set on Saturday and Sunday against the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
It’s a road trip Getz is looking forward to, and he sees a bright summer ahead for the boys in red.
“I can’t wait to go on the road trips with the guys, it’s going to be awesome,” Getz said. “There’s a lot of guys that can just absolutely rake, so it’s going to be awesome to see and share some special memories with these guys.”
