Mavs clobbered in Regina series after big Friday win

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 17, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

The Medicine Hat Mavericks didn’t get the greatest experience in Regina this weekend.

After holding on to beat the Okotoks Dawgs 5-4 on Friday at Athletic Park, the Mavs hit the road for a two-game set against the Red Sox. They dropped the pair of games, 12-2 on Saturday and 11-1 Sunday, outscored 23-3 for their fifth loss in their last 10 games.

In the lone win of the weekend, the Mavs led 5-0 Friday through five innings with a pair of multi-run innings. Outfielder Aaron Vulcano blasted a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his fourth long ball of the season. They grabbed the 5-0 lead with three runs in the fifth. Outfielder Micah Dvorak knocked an RBI single and infielder Carter Roth collected a pair of RBIs with a single.

Zander Roberts started the game for the Mavs, allowing seven hits and two walks in five innings pitched, picking up the win with two strikeouts.

Okotoks scored four runs in the seventh inning, bringing themselves within one of the Mavs. Garrick Levesque and Luke Barrinetos combined to pitch three innings, getting the Mavs to the ninth with the one-run lead.

Ty Spruiell started the ninth inning, picking off a leadoff single before allowing a single and a pair of walks to put runners on first and second with one out. Gary Dornan took over on the mound, inducing a pair of flyouts to preserve the win.

The Mavs opened the weekend series in Regina by surrendering multiple runs in all but three innings Saturday in the 12-2 loss. Jeremy Freeman Jr. roped an RBI triple in the third inning and he later scored in the eighth, crossing home on a groundout after hitting his second triple of the night.

Danny Retzlaff started the game, lifted after allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk in three innings, recording one strikeout. Dornan pitched two innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and four walks. Utility man Adam Vulcano made his way to the mound in the sixth inning, working six outs, two being strikeouts, allowing two runs on two walks and three hits. Graham Stack finished the game, allowing a walk and recording a strikeout in his inning on the mound.

In Sunday’s loss, Regina scored a pair of runs in the first two innings and added three in the fourth to lead 5-0 entering the fifth inning. Medicine Hat got on the board then, with Adam Vulcano scoring on an error by a Regina pitcher, to cash the Mavs’ lone run of the loss. He made his way on base with a single, driven in off a hit from Jamal Chabot that forced the error.

Regina scored a run in the sixth and added five more in the eighth for their second blowout win of the weekend. Max Hudlow started the game, working 3.2 innings with five runs against on nine hits and two walks, striking out a pair. Luis Diaz worked 3.1 innings, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks with one punch-out. Barrientos and Ryan Dexter worked the eighth inning, with the former allowing five runs on two hits and three walks, recording a strikeout.

The Mavs were outhit 29-13 in the two-game series. They come out of the weekend still in second place of the East division with an 11-6 record, three games back of the Saskatoon Berries who carry a six-game win streak into the new week. They’ve missed the production of shortstop Johnny Vulcano who has been out of the lineup since June 10.

All of the WCBL was off Monday, with the Mavs getting a much-needed off day before they open a six-game stretch.

They host the Brooks Bombers tonight at Athletic Park, the first of five games this week at the friendly confines. They’ll head to Swift Current on Wednesday to face the 57’s. The Mavs will host the Berries for a pair of games on Thursday and Friday and then face the Moose Jaw Miller Express on Saturday and Sunday before another Monday off day. All games, except Sunday’s, gets underway at 7:05 p.m.

Sunday’s game, a 2:05 p.m. start, will be led by the annual Medicine Hat Fire Service and Police Service charity softball game. That game gets underway at noon, tickets are $12 with proceeds going to the Medicine Hat Root Cellar. Those tickets, which also grant access to the following Mavs’ game, can be purchased at MHPS reception or at the Mavs’ office.

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