NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
The Medicine Hat Mavericks all-star pose after the rain-shortened all-star game Saturday at Okotoks. Pitchers Luis Diaz, Xander Roberts, infielder Carter Roth, outfielder Jeremy Freeman Jr., head coach Jonathon Thornhill and infielder Tyler Vanneste represented the East division in a 10-3 win over the West division.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Tyler Vanneste brought the early fireworks at the 2025 WCBL all-star game.
The Medicine Hat Mavericks infielder slugged eight home runs as the first participant in the home run derby to kick-off the festivities hosted Saturday at Okotoks’ Seaman Stadium. It was an afternoon of the league’s best squaring off, cut short by rain that ended the all-star game after six innings, with the East division winning 10-3, giving them wins in consecutive years.
Vanneste’s eight home runs held on for the East division lead until the final batter, Weyburn’s Ian Heck had 11 home runs to move onto the final. Heck lost to Fort McMurray Giants’ Matt Rhoades who hit 13 in the toping round and nine in the final round for the win.
“It was good, I just wanted to get one, that’s all I told myself, just get one,” Vanneste said recounting the derby. “Tthen after the time out, me and JT got into a rhythm, and it just, it kept going out. So I was like, great. Just keep it going.
Vanneste hit the side mirror of a promotional pickup truck parked on the field on one of his first swings, before he started seeing them fly. He also surpassed former Mavs’ teammate Jordan Phillips total of two home runs knocked in 2024.
“I’m going to text him, rub it in his face a little,” Vanneste joked.
Mavs’ head coach Jonathon Thornhill threw to Vanneste in the derby. He wasn’t afraid to admit there were some nerves on the mound, wanting to set up his infielder for success.
“Once Tyler got his first, not only was he probably calmer, but I was a lot calmer throwing him too,” Thornhill said. “But he got in the groove there, he had a lot of fun with it. We talked about it going into the day and he said, ‘as long as I get one JT, I’m happy.’ So he got eight and it was a lot of fun.
In all, the total amount of homers hit was 111, a derby record according to Alberta Dugout Stories. The previous record was 85 was in 2024.
The Mavs made an impact in the all-star game, cut short after six innings.
Infielder Carter Roth was in the starting lineup, getting on base in his first at bat with a fielders choice hit. He then scored from first base on a botched pickoff move that surprised the West division defenders, seeing the ball roll into the outfield. The right fielder bobbled the ball as Roth was around second base, eventually scoring for an early 1-0 lead.
“It was a lot of fun coming around second on that missed play, reading that and seeing the whole dugout just cheering on me, telling me to go home,” Roth said. “It was awesome to have an atmosphere of just a bunch of guys that just come together right there and put our differences aside and just go out the West. So it was a lot of fun.”
Roth finished with a hit and the run scored on the day. Vanneste had an at bat in the sixth, getting on base and later scoring with a hit by pitch, the 12th time this season he’s been hit.
Luis Diaz threw in the third inning, recording a strikeout.
“I’m very happy for the opportunity to be here and happy for the performance we won, it’s the most important thing,” Diaz said. “I’m very happy for the inning and it was very fun, the fans and the atmosphere, everything. I loved it.”
Xander Roberts recorded two outs in the top of a rainy sixth inning. Due to the weather shortening the game, outfielder Jeremy Freeman Jr. did not make an appearance in the game.
The WCBL announced pre-game the all-star festivities will shift to the East division next season with the Saskatoon Berries granted hosting privileges for the 2026 game. Berries slugger Ethan Menard was the WCBL all-star game MVP with a solo home run in the top of the sixth, the lone long-ball of the game.
