Mavericks ready to welcome Medicine Hat back to Athletic Park

The Mavericks will take their first cuts of the year in Moose Jaw against the Miller Express on Friday, their first contest since August of 2019.

No one on that night at Spitz Stadium could have imagined it would have been a multi-year wait for WCBL baseball to return to Medicine Hat, but that was the case.

Mavericks rookie catcher Zachary Stark was playing high school ball at that time for Medicine Hat High and has been waiting patiently to make his debut at the summer collegiate level.

Finally, he’ll get his chance as the Mavericks kick off their return to play in Saskatchewan.

“I’m seeing it as another game, but in the back of my mind I still know it’s been two years since we’ve played,” said Stark. “So, bringing baseball back to Medicine Hat, there’s nothing better.”

COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the entire 2020 WCBL season, leaving the Mavericks and the rest of the league’s franchises in a precarious situation.

As the league prepared for a comeback in 2021, the Mavericks were one of several clubs to decline a return for the summer season.

“I’m seeing it as another game, but in the back of my mind I still know it’s been two years since we’ve played,” said Stark. “So, bringing baseball back to Medicine Hat, there’s nothing better.”

The biggest issue of which would have been a relocation from Athletic Park to Jeffries Park, as the former stadium was in line for an extensive $3 million renovation project.

Instead, Morrison and the Mavericks elected to hold tight for another season while the work was done to their facility which included a new shade canopy, new ticket office and merchandise store, plus a new seating area behind home plate.

Those upgrades combined with the team’s first home game since pre-pandemic will likely mean an emotional afternoon on Sunday for the franchise.

“It’s probably going to be a tear-jerker a couple times on and off throughout the game for me and some other people,” said Morrison. “It’s going to be a great experience.”

Despite the delay, four pitchers from the 2019 roster have returned to Medicine Hat including Garrett Nicholson, Bryce Libke, Nathan Stark and Hunter Cooper.

Cooper admitted it was frustrating having to delay his second season in red and white year after year, but is glad opening week has finally arrived in Medicine Hat.

“This is more of a family than any other summer team that I’ve been on,” said Cooper. “So, it’s just getting to know the people of the city and the team and stuff.”

Photo courtesy Ross Lavigne

Medicine Hat’s strength this season likely lies with their left-handed pitching, which makes up the bulk of the arms donning the Mavericks logo in 2022.

Chasing a fourth WCBL title in team history will be the top priority for the Mavericks this summer, but this year’s roster admits it’s a different feeling getting to welcome the community back to Athletic Park.

“People always ask me, ‘When is the next game?’” said Stark. “And now I can actually tell them when the next game is. So, we’re just going to come out here and have some fun on Sunday.”

Morrison joked he might have to find a corner this weekend where he could shed a few tears as the Mavericks throw the first pitch of a new season, and a new chapter for the organization.

“It really does take a village to make a ball organization like this go,” said Morrison. “I’m just ever appreciative to everybody for helping out the last couple of years.”

Friday’s season opener in Moose Jaw gets going at 7:05 pm, while it will be a 2:05 pm start for Sunday’s Mavericks home opener versus the Miller Express.

by Scott Roblin

Mavericks ready to welcome Medicine Hat back to Athletic Park

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