Medicine Hat Mavericks on outside of playoff race after weekend split with Beavers

To regain a playoff spot, the Mavs will have to start winning more consistently, having struggled of late with only two wins in their past nine games.

The competition will be tough during a five-game stretch in Saskatchewan from Monday to Friday.

A three-game set against the Berries starts Monday in Saskatoon. A team they have lost all five games against so far this season.

Then on Thursday and Friday, the Mavs will play in Moose Jaw against the Miller Express. The Mavs have also struggled against Moose Jaw, only winning twice in eight games.

Both Moose Jaw and Saskatoon sit atop the East Division with 33-13 records.

The Mavs enter the week at 19-28, just behind the 18-26 Beavers, and also a game and a half behind the 19-25 Regina Red Sox.

In Sunday’s win, the Mavs got a strong start from pitcher Julian Pokorny, who went 6.2 innings, giving up four runs, only one earned, with eight strikeouts to earn the win.

The Mavs’ offence got to work in the second inning when Eric Calder hit a two-run home run, also bringing home Johnny Vulcano, who hit a double earlier in the inning.

In the third inning, the Mavs opened the lead to 4-0 off a Carter Roth home run, also scoring Jalen King.

The Beavers got their first run in the top of the sixth inning when Hugh Montgomery scored on a Noah Brooks double.

A strong response from the Mavs in the bottom half of the inning had them put up six to take a 10-1 lead.

Frankie Giacalone would lead off with a double, followed by a single from Jonny Vulcano.

Both would score on a three-run home run from Calder, his second of the game.

Josh Stark would later single, as would Roth, before both came home on a three-run home run from Evan Morrison.

A throwing error to start the seventh inning would allow Ryan Dauphinee to reach for the Beavers; he was later replaced on the bases by Jared Kramp.

A double from Austin Boylan would drive in Kramp. Trevor Dale would then hit a two-run home run.

After walking the next batter, that would mark the end of the night for Mavs starter Pokorny.

With the Mavs lead cut to 10-4, JJ Harnett would come in and escape the rest of the inning without further damage.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Mavs would make it 11-4 when Morrison reached on a fielder’s choice, and Jalen King would score.

Davin Hinote would retire all four batters he faced after coming in for the Mavs with one out remaining in the eighth inning.

Zach Raichel was tagged with the loss for the Beavers.

Saturday’s game was one in which the Mavs would never hold a lead.

The Beavers would get three runs in the third inning, and then another in the fourth off a solo home run from Robert Gurney.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Mavs would cut the deficit to 4-3.

Johnny Vulcano would lead off with a single, followed by singles from Calder and Adam Vulcano to load the bases.

Jahzeel Groetelaers would then drive in Johnny Vulcano and Calder with a single.

Adam Vulcano would then score on a Jalen King sacrifice fly.

That would be as close as the Mavs would get, as the Beavers would score three more in the top of the fifth. Capped off by a three-run home run from Ryan Dauphinee. Extending the Beavers’ lead to 7-3.

They would score six more in the top of the seventh inning to make it 13-3, which included a two-run home run from Will Sevier.

A three-run home run from Owen Mayencourt in the top of the eighth would make it 16-3 for the Beavers.

Derek Archer took the loss on the mound for the Mavs, while Josh Prichard picked up the win for the Beavers.

The Mavs had also dropped a 4-2 decision to the Moose Jaw Miller Express on Friday.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Mavericks on outside of playoff race after weekend split with Beavers

Our Community