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Local boy Kunkel setting the bar high ahead of 2017 season

May 30, 2017 | 3:51 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — As the youngest player on the team, Zack Kunkel was simply happy to dawn the Mavericks logo from time to time.

But as his second season in the WMBL approaches, the local boy’s sights are set on a much heavier workload with the Medicine Hat Mavericks.

“I’m really eager to get back into ball,” said the 19 year old outfielder. “I want to come out this year and put the team on my back essentially.”

Kunkel is one of just a few returning players to the WMBL club. He’s joining pitchers Talon Kunkel (his cousin) and Jared Libke, who both performed exceptionally well on the mound last summer. 

On top of these three returners, infielder Blake Rowlett and pitching coach Kyle Swannack have returned following a year away from the Mavs. Rowlett threw for the Okotoks Dawgs last season, while Swannack took in summer 2016 as a spectator. 

Kunkel is fresh off a red-shirt campaign with the Minot State University program in North Dakota. Although he didn’t play a single game down south, he says he put in a ton of practice and he’s been chomping at the bit to get the summer rolling.

“I was practicing all year pretty much, just getting extra reps as much as I could,” added the Vauxhall Vikings alumni.

But what’s most admirable out of the young Hatter, is his enthusiastic attitude ahead of the regular season. 

Kunkel has set the bar high this season after playing 28 of the Mavs 47 games last year. His rookie campaign brought in 7 RBI’s and 17 hits, combined with a .277 batting average.

“Definitely (higher expectations) this year,” he added. “Last year I was the youngest guy on the team. I hadn’t really played much. I was just kind of happy to be here. This year I’m expected to bring the team a championship.”

Kunkel says one of the biggest draws to the team last year was the electric fan-base cheering from the Athletic Park stands. One of his favorite aspect to playing on the Mavs is interacting with the fans before and after games.

“That’s really fun for me. Signing the balls for little kids… I mean, they look up to you. I was that kid at one point too. It’s kind of heartwarming to see,” he added.

Zack and the rest of the Mavericks wrap up their three-day mini-camp on Wednesday before hosting the first annual Fan Fest on Thursday. The 2017 regular season begins with a date with the Okotoks Dawgs on Friday at Seaman Stadium.