NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks starting pitcher Fawster Voytko throws a pitch in the first inning of an 8-3 win Friday night at Athletic Park over the Swift Current 57's.
Medicine Hat News
Fawster Voytko ended his season with the Medicine Hat Mavericks on a high note.
The righty from El Paso, Tex. worked six innings allowing just one run as the Mavs’ slugged four home runs en route to an 8-3 win Friday night at Athletic Park over the Swift Current 57’s.
“Just being able to trust my stuff from the beginning to the end, all the way through, getting through those jumps and those little bumps throughout the way definitely held me back a little bit getting frustrated on the mound but you got to keep moving,” Voytko said. “You have to keep growing. So you just wanted those strikes and kind of move fast  and it all kind of fell the way I wanted to.”
The senior from Ottawa University had his mom and girlfriend in the stands for his final outing before leaving Medicine Hat due to an innings limit. He put on a show, allowing the lone run in the second inning on six hits and three walks, striking out three. While it wasn’t a full summer in Medicine Hat, he enjoyed the ride.
“I have been absolutely blessed to play with the Mavericks, and (they) have treated me so well here and I couldn’t ask for anything more, I really appreciate it,” Voytko said.
Friday’s victory was a bounce back for the Mavs after a 19-6 loss Thursday at home to the Moose Jaw Miller Express. The effort in the win was what head coach Jonathon Thornhill has seen from his group all season. He says they met expectations for how they have to respond from down games.
“One of the consistent factors from this team this year has been when you have a rough night the night before, whether it’s a close game and you drop it or it’s just been something like yesterday, they’ve responded very well,” Thornhill said.”So no surprise today and Fawster goes out with a bang, finishing his last outing with us here. Then (A.J.) Doll comes in and does his job, Jensen (Cockrell) was a little crazy there, I went out there and said ‘figure it out,’ basically and he did that. So good job on all fronts from all aspects, our only error being a catchers interference, so I’ll take that to bed at night happy.”
Catcher Jaden Babiuk was called for catchers interference in the top of the first inning. On the other side of the diamond, Swift Current had three blunders on the night.
After Swift Current got on the board in the top of the second, the Mavs responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single from Blake Dale. The offence after that gave a preview for the WCBL’s all-star game on July 19 in Okotoks, as the Mavs held their own home run derby.
Dale led off the fourth inning with a solo home run, his second of the season. Centre fielder Jeremy Freeman Jr. lifted a ball out of the park for his third of the season, all coming in the last four games. One pitch later, right fielder Aaron Vulcano slugged a home run, his fifth, for the 4-1 lead. They added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth via the long ball with a two-run shot off the bat of Adam Vulcano, his fourth home run on the summer.
The Mavs kept the ball in the park but drove in two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, with an RBI double from Freeman Jr. and a fielders choice hit from shortstop Carter Roth making it an 8-1 lead. Freeman, Dale and Adam Vulcano each finished the night with two RBIs.
A.J. Doll took the mound in the seventh and worked two clean frames, allowing just a hit and two walks, striking out a pair. Jensen Cockrell had the ninth inning, looking for the final three outs. He loaded the bases on a double, single and a walk before allowing a bases-loaded walk to make it an 8-2 game. A ball hit in the infield allowed the Mavs to nab a runner at home for the first out of the inning.
Cockrell induced a fly ball to Freeman Jr. in centre field  who dove to make the catch, allowing a runner to score. He got up throwing, unleashing a dart to third base to nab a 57’s base runner for the final out. The throw is Freeman Jr.’s second outfield assist of the season, a statistic he hopes to see grow as opponents keep testing his arm.
” I hope they never stop (running), it’s so fun throwing people out, I hope they just try to keep running,” Freeman Jr. said with a smile.
The Mavs outhit the 57’s 13-9, both teams stranded 13 runners on base.
Medicine Hat looks to end the week with some retribution, they host the Millers on Saturday for their annual Super Hero night, with proceeds from jersey sales going to  the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Thornhill says they’re looking to make good on the blowout loss to Moose Jaw on Thursday with a second shot.
“We get a chance to get those guys again at our place, Luis Diaz to start and I expect our guys to have a much better presentation of themselves and a good show for the fans,” Thornhill said. “It’s supposed to be a pretty good crowd tomorrow too, so we’d (definitely) love to return the favour tomorrow night.”
First pitch at Athletic Park is slated for 7:05 p.m.
