Seven-run eighth inning sinks Mavs in Saturday night loss to Weyburn

By James Tubb on August 2, 2025.

Medicine Hat News

A back-and-forth bout Saturday in Weyburn saw the Beavers throw the final punch on the Medicine Hat Mavericks.

The Beavers scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Mavs 14-7, a second straight loss for the Mavs at Weyburn. Medicine Hat lost 7- 6 Friday.

The Beavers opened the scoring Saturday, their final home game of the regular season, getting on the board with a sacrifice fly.

Play rolled along with three scoreless innings with both teams combing for three hits, two from the Mavs.

The Mavs got on the board and grabbed a lead in the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Micah Dvorak and Jeremy Freeman Jr. led off the frame and with one out, Tyler Vanneste scored the pair with a triple. He then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carter Roth for the 3-1 lead.

Gary Dornan started the game for the Mavs, working two innings allowing the lone run on five walks, striking out three. Ryan Harney took over to start the third, working into the sixth inning where Weyburn scored four runs for a 5-3 lead. An RBI single and a fielders choice RBI scored a pair of runs for the Beavers and ended Harney’s night, bringing Luke Barrientos into the game. A two-run double after the pitching change gave the Beavers their second lead of the night.

The Mavs responded in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs for a 7-5 lead. Freeman Jr. scored a run on an infield error on a hit from Aaron Vulcano. Freeman Jr. doubled  to lead off the inning. Johnny Vulcano plated a pair of runs with a two-out single that turned into a double on an outfielder error. He then scored on an error by the Weyburn shortstop to cap-off the inning.

Two straight Weyburn walks from Barrientos to start the start the bottom of the seventh brought Tyler Cutler into the game on the mound. He loaded the bases with a walk of his own and then walked in a run, cutting the Mavs’ lead to 7-6. Cutler recorded a strikeout before walking a third batter in the inning as the Beavers tied the game at 7-7.

Weyburn starter Ian Heck worked seven innings, throwing 149 pitches in his final start on the mound in the WCBL. The two-way player finished with nine strikeouts in his seven innings of work, allowing seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and three walks. He also had a hit and drew two walks, scoring three times.

The Beavers blew the game open in the eighth, scoring seven runs on six hits and a walk for the 14-7 lead. They had two home runs, a two-run blast and a three-run home run were followed up by a pair of RBI singles. Freeman Jr. made a throw from centre field on the first RBI single, pulling up on the play and exiting the game after the run scored. Yusei Uzawa took over in centre field.

David Heinen worked in the eighth inning for the Mavs, taking over for Cutler after the two-run home run.

The Mavs (34-19) head to Saskatoon on Sunday for the first of a two-game set against the Berries to end the regular season. Both games get underway at 1 p.m.

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