Brothers Zachary Stark (left), Nathan Stark (centre) and Josh Stark (right) are playing the 2022 WCBL season together with their hometown Medicine Hat Mavericks (Photo courtesy Scott Roblin)

By Scott Roblin

Stark Contrast

Stark brothers forming three-headed monster for Mavericks

Jun 9, 2022 | 5:30 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Coming up through Medicine Hat’s minor league system, the Mavericks organization was the pinnacle of baseball in southeast Alberta for local Josh Stark.

“I’ve always dreamed about being a Maverick, I didn’t think it would be like this,” said Stark.

Heading out onto the diamond for his first season at Athletic Park, it’s a culmination of years of hard work for the 20 year old who is now getting an even more rare opportunity.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment ever since I ran out with Joel Lutz to first base as a kid,” said Stark. “To wear these colours in front of my hometown means everything to me.”

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Joining Josh in the Mavericks dugout this year are two returning players to the organization, whose history with the Medicine Hat High graduate date back to the day he was born.

Medicine Hat’s roster for the 2022 WCBL season features a trifecta of Starks, with Josh now joining his older brothers Nathan and Zachary in the fold.

“I haven’t really had the opportunity to play with Josh,” said Nathan. “I’ve played with Zach before, but to be able to play with both of them it’s really special because just that age difference we kind of get separated a little bit.”

Nathan and Zachary played together for their hometown Mavericks during the 2019 WCBL season, with Zachary coming into the team at the time as a freshman.

Now that Josh is in that position, 22 year old Zachary said he feels like the veteran this time around.

“It’s real good because when I played with Nathan, I kind of looked up to him as a mentor,” said Zachary. “I think Josh looks up to me in that way, so I try my best to make sure that he’s taken care of, he’s getting his work in and he’s wanting to get better as well.”

Zachary and Josh both came up through the Medicine Hat High system and Hawks head coach Lyall Foran isn’t surprised to see the family’s success at the collegiate level.

“I guess it just starts with good genetics,” said Foran. “They consider themselves ball players and they love playing the game. They’ll do whatever they have to in succeeding at the next level. That work ethic and that determination is something that I think really helps them.”

As for Nathan, high school was a long time ago for the 24 year old entering his senior season with the Mavericks but still takes pride in being a former Monsignor McCoy Colt.

The reunion of the three brothers harkens back to the good ol’ days of backyard baseball for the trio.

“In the backyard it’s more competitive and a lot more ruthless,” said Nathan. “There’s a lot more tears and a lot more crying, but it just feels the same.”

With Nathan on the mound, Zachary behind home plate catching and Josh getting time as an outfielder, there is a chance the brothers could all end up on the diamond at the same time this year.

“In the backyard it’s more competitive and a lot more ruthless,” said Nathan. “There’s a lot more tears and a lot more crying, but it just feels the same.”

Zachary admits catching for his older brother has evolved over the years, but would love the chance to do it again this season.

“It’s a little bit different than what it used to be in the backyard,” said Zachary. “Now that he throws a lot harder, my catching ability is a lot better I think. It’s just a lot of fun now that I can see how much better he’s gotten.”

Nathan has both Zachary and Josh beat in championship trophies, winning the WCBL title with Medicine Hat as a freshman in 2018.

Fast forward four years later, that winning experience only goes so far when it comes to brotherly love.

“I know as an older brother sometimes they might not want to hear what I have to say,” said Nathan. But honestly, I probably wouldn’t have to tell much of anything to them because they’ll just go figure it out on their own.”

Winning a WCBL championship with his brothers by his side however, would be a special kind of celebration according to Nathan.

“It would be reminiscent of kind of that backyard baseball-esque World Series hoisting our little homemade trophy that we made,” said Nathan. “But to be able to do it here would be a bit of an upgrade.”

While one summer collegiate career is winding down for the Stark family, another is just beginning in Josh’s case.

Even if his time on the field is limited as a true freshman this summer, holding that trophy high next to his brothers would be quite the way to end his first season in red and white.

“I’ve always dreamed of lifting that trophy ever since I became a Maverick,” said Josh. “To do that with them, that would mean absolutely everything.”