By Mitch Bach

Mavericks hold off late push from Bulls for second win in a row

Jun 6, 2018 | 9:58 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Consistent offence helped the Medicine Hat Mavericks to a dominant victory Wednesday night at Athletic Park.

Sal Rodriguez batted in a pair of early runs, and the Red and White earned their second victory in a row 8-5 over the Lethbridge Bulls. It comes one day after holding the Okotoks Dawgs to just one run in their first win of the season.

Back to back wins gets the Mavs back to .500 on the early campaign, now 2-2 and in a four-way tie for second place in the WMBL’s Western Division. Lethbridge, who was narrowly edge 12-11 in hits in the game, falls to 1-5 and remain last place.

Medicine Hat struck early. After holding Lethbridge off the board in the top half of the first, Louie Canjura, Rodriguez, and Carson Johnson batted in a trio of runs to give the Mavs a 3-0 lead.

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

The home team answered again in the third after stranding a combined five Bulls batters. Rodriguez chalked up his second of two RBI on the night, with Zack Gray and Jordan Drey batting in single notches to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Gray, playing his first game of the season, went 2/4 with two RBI while slotted fourth in the order.

The Bulls broke the goose-egg in the fifth with a single tally, but the Mavs offence persisted in the sixth with a pair more to lead 8-1.

Lethbridge made it interesting in the latter part of the contest. Carter Witbeck took a high shot just left of the scoreboard; a two-run homer to bring the Bulls within five in the seventh. A misplay in the eighth by the Mavs led the Bulls to a couple more notches off the bat of Kaleb Warden. 

Sean Cruz, a native of Guam, replaced Nathan Stark on the mound following the play. After walking his first batter and loading the bases, the Friends University senior struck out Witbeck to bring relief to the Mavericks faithful.

Next up for the Mavericks is a trip to Brooks Thursday night, searching for revenge over a Bombers squad that halted the Mavericks in their home opener. The first pitch goes at 7:05 p.m. from Elks Stadium.