Mavericks on a three game road trip, before returning home for a pair on the weekend

Mavs assistant coach Cody Henderson says it’s nice to get out to a strong start.

Mavericks assistant coach Cody Hederson spoke to CHAT News about their upcoming road trip. (Ross Lavigne/CHAT News)

“Especially here at home. We’ve dropped a couple, but it’s just going eight and four. It’s just starting out strong is just one of the things we want to do before we play a couple of those teams out West,” Henderson said.

“It’s just nice to get some wins under our belt in the east.”

The Mavericks have started the season with seven of their first 12 games at Athletic Park.

Henderson feels the three day road trip between Saskatoon and Regina will be a good time to help the players bond.

“I think we’ll be able to bond just because it’s when you’re at home, you come to the park every day, but you’re not necessarily living with each other. When you can kind of live with each other, all the meals over the next three days,” Henderson said.

“Just getting on the bus, and just being with each other. I think it’ll help us bond and get us back on the track, just coming home,” he added.

The Mavericks opponent Wednesday and Thursday night is the expansion Saskatoon Berries who they beat 13-8 and 20-7 earlier in the season.

Henderson expects an improved showing from the Berries as the expansion team starts to get their feet under them.

“They’re a pretty good club. I think first couple games, it’s always tough for anybody to play. We got them pretty good, but from what I’ve seen, they have a pretty good crowd at home. And I think everybody wants to perform it at their home stadium,” Henderson said.

“We can’t overlook them. You overlook any team in baseball, you’re going to get beat on any given night.”

The Mavericks have had a few days off since their weekend split at home against the Weyburn Beavers where the Mavs won 5-1 Saturday, before dropping a 5-1 contest on Sunday.

This had wrapped up a five day stretch of games for the Mavs.

With the Weyburn Beavers now sitting at 4-7 on the season it drives home Henderson’s point of being able to lose to anyone if you don’t show up.

“I think the league just continues to get better. It’s just one of those where you got to bring your ‘A’ game every night,” Henderson said.

“When you don’t, I mean, we struck out nine times and you’re not going to win a lot of ball games when you’re not putting the ball in place,” he added.

“If we can just come out hitting and I think we’re going to put ourselves in a good spot.”

Henderson outlined some of the keys to success for the Mavericks.

“It’s just kind of the old saying, you got to throw strikes, defense and strikes wins you games,” Henderson said.

“If we can come out, throw strikes and then just get on them early and just hit the ball around, I think we’re going to be in a pretty good place.”

The Mavericks will be playing 10 game over the next 11 nights, Henderson said that’s not an easy task.

“We had a couple of days off to get the bodies rested, I think we’re getting a couple of guys back and just hopefully we can get on the right track here with this road trip and just kind of getting out to a strong start on the road trip,” Henderson said

“It’s a tough grind. It’s a long season, but if you can start out the stretch strong, you’re going to be in a good spot.”

After the two games against the Berries in Saskatoon, the Mavericks head to Regina to take on the Red Sox on Friday for the first time this season.

The Mavs head back to Athletic Park for a pair of home games on Saturday and Sunday against the Moose Jaw Miller Express who they had split their season opening series with in Moose Jaw losing 14-8 in game one and winning 7-4 in game two.

Father’s Day is the Socks for Dad game in support of the Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation.

by Jesse Gill

Mavericks on a three game road trip, before returning home for a pair on the weekend

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