By Scott Roblin

Podkul leads Mavericks to weekend sweep over Millionaires

Jul 1, 2017 | 1:16 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Mavericks (13-11) kept on rolling Friday night, as they wrapped up their two-game home set with the visiting Melville Millionaires (5-18).

It wasn’t the best start to a game this season for the Mavericks, as Melville’s Cole Henley jumped on a pitch from starter Taylor Wilson and took it over the fence to put the visitors up 1-0 in the second inning.

With a runner on third, Frank Podkul stepped to the plate in the bottom of the second and responded with a homer of his own to put Medicine Hat in the lead 2-1.

Later in the inning with two runners on, a single from Caleb Longley scored Jaxson Hooge from second to extend the Mavericks lead to 3-1.

Still a 3-1 score in the fifth, an error from Medicine Hat’s Blake Rowlett allowed Melville’s Gentry Ford to cross home plate to cut the deficit to one.

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The Mavericks took advantage in the bottom of the fifth with a number of hits, with Chris Caffrey, Louie Canjura, and Rock Jordan all picking up RBIs to give Medicine Hat a commanding 6-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth with empty bases, Longley took the third pitch he saw for a ride. A solo home run for the Tennessee product, and a 7-2 lead for the Mavericks.

Podkul’s great night at the dish extended into the seventh inning, picking up his second home run of the night and the team’s third, making it an 8-2 game.

The offence didn’t end there however for Medicine Hat, with Caffrey popping up a sacrifice fly to the outfield and scoring the newly acquired David Salguerio.

Justin Simanek came in to close out the contest, with the Mavericks getting the series sweep against Melville with a 9-2 final score.

Aside from the home run allowed in the second, Wilson was excellent on the mound for the Mavericks, going six innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits with four strikeouts.

Podkul had his best game of the year on Friday, going 3-4 at the plate with two home runs and three RBIs.

Longley was a perfect 5-5 at the dish with a pair of RBIs, while Caffrey also had a multi-RBI outing.

Approaching the midway mark of the WMBL regular season, the Mavericks are sitting one game back of the Edmonton Prospects for third place in the Western Division.

A big turnout is expected on Saturday night at Athletic Park, as the Mavs play host to the powerhouse Regina Red Sox (15-7) to celebrate Canada Day.

Tanner Helms will get the call on the mound for Medicine Hat, first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.