By Mitch Bach

Mavs pummel Dawgs, increase lead in West Division

Jun 14, 2018 | 9:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Mavericks made easy work of completing a two-game sweep over the Okotoks Dawgs on Thursday night.

Jumpai Akanuma allowed just two hits in seven innings of shutout pitching, Louie Canjura drove in a trio of runs, and the Mavs demolished the Dawgs 8-3 at Athletic Park.

Make it nine wins in a row for Medicine Hat, having not lost a game since their home opener to the Brooks Bombers on June 4th.

Their 9-2 record is tops in the WMBL’s Western Division, two wins clear of the Dawgs who also lost to Medicine Hat on Wednesday.

These two will tangle at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks on Saturday night.

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Akanuma, a product of Kyoto, Japan, was solid from the get-go, tossing aside his first three batters in the contest. The Lee University senior tallied four strikeouts in his third start for the Mavericks, and improved his record to 2-1.

Mavs batters certainly did their job early as well. Canjura chopped a two-run double in the second, helping Medicine Hat take a 4-0 lead. Four separate batters helped drive in runs in the fifth, increasing the home team’s advantage to 8-0.

Nathan Stark took the ball in the top of the eighth, but struggled to contain the Dawgs offence. The Hat-product allowed two runs on walks, followed by a sac-fly from Riley Baasch.

Medicine Hat escaped the eighth inning allowing three runs, holding a commanding 8-3 lead. Johnathon Smithey closed out the game to earn the save.

Eight of the Mavs nine batters recorded at least one hit. Colton Wright was the lone batter held hitless, but forced a pair of walks in the win. Sal Rodriguez continues his hot play as of late with a pair of hits and an RBI. David Salgueiro, Zack Gray, Carson Johnson, and Michael Conn each collected RBI’s.

Medicine Hat gets a rare Friday night off this week before meeting Okotoks for a third straight game on Saturday. Their next home game is Sunday in the annual Plaid for Dad game, taking on the Fort McMurray Giants on Sunday (2:05 p.m.).