NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks pitcher Jack Suhai delivers a pitch in the top of the ninth inning in the Mavericks 15-9 loss Sunday at Athletic Park against the Swift Current 57's.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Mavericks can only go up from their opening weekend results.
The Mavericks are looking for their first win of the 2023 Western Canadian Baseball League season after dropping the first three contests, falling 8-4 in Lethbridge on Friday, dropping their home opener against the Bulls 7-6 on Saturday and losing 15-9 on Sunday at Athletic Park against the Swift Current 57’s.
Mavericks head coach Mark Goodman says the team is coming together and was encouraged by how the Mavericks never gave up in their losses, fighting to the end in all matches.
“It was a good weekend, we made mistakes in different areas and we just haven’t been able to put all the pieces together but we’re trying. These guys don’t lack effort and these boys are getting after it,” Goodman said. “We just haven’t had the luck of fielding, hitting and pitching all together in one game yet so it makes it tough.
“It’s not about the effort, they never give up the fights, always there and that’s one thing that’s going to help us in the long run when we do start winning some games, is that our fight is never giving up.”
The Mavericks were outscored 30-19 on the weekend and had 11 errors, five coming in Saturday’s loss. Goodman says he’s happy that all of their pitchers have had a chance to throw early in the season and their hitters have shown the ability to put up runs. With the opening weekend behind them, he says they’ve shaken some of the rust off and can just look forward to continue playing in front of large crowds.
“Some guys haven’t even played this year, there’s red shirts or it’s been a few weeks after their last games,” Goodman said. “To have such great crowds like this, there’s going to be nerves and that’s why we’re excited to get on the road and go somewhere else, get the boys out, have some fun and start a winning streak.”
The Mavericks start a three-game Saskatchewan road trip tonight in Weyburn as they face the Beavers for the first of a two-game set. Medicine Hat has a rematch with Weyburn on Wednesday then they head to Regina on Thursday to face the Red Sox before returning to Medicine Hat on Friday for a rematch with the 57’s.
Goodman says the road trip could not come at a better time for his team as they look to get in the win column.
“It comes at a great time for them to just be boys the whole time,” Goodman said. “I’m excited, I love road trips too. This is where the boys are going to come together for the summer.”
Mavericks pitcher and Medicine Hat product Jack Suhai is looking forward to the bonding experience a road trip can provide and further getting to know his new teammates.
“Some of the road trips can be pretty long and dreary but you get to be around your teammates and you find ways to make it less dreary,” Suhai said. “I’m going to take a book on our trip to Weyburn.
“Getting to stay in hotels with new teammates and shoot the breeze, tell new stories and get to know everybody, it’s obviously a great time to start bonding. When you’re going through the kind of the gutter out there on your road trips out in Saskatchewan, that’s when you come together as a team.”
As the Mavericks hit the road for their first trip of the season Goodman says he appreciated the crowd at Athletic Park in opening weekend and is looking forward to a full summer of both cheers and jeers.
“I love that they get after me when I get guys thrown out at home, I love it, it’s a great crowd,” Goodman said. “I love it when they’re cheering when it’s bloops and they know the game, I love it, bring it on, it makes me happy. I’m out there, I’m glad they’re holding me accountable. This is a great summer so far, even though we don’t have it in the win column, I’m having a great time.
“Just stay with us, there’s a lot of games.”
