By Truman Bartman themavericks.ca
What a ride it’s been for the Medicine Hat Mavericks over their first four games. Ranked 7th in the power rankings a week before the season, the Mavs have found their groove early on, winning four straight out of the gate. It’s been one of the hottest starts that the group has had to open a summer in recent history. They will look to continue their success against the Swift Current 57s this afternoon.
The 57s are a familiar foe, as the two duelled it out in Swift Current on Friday night. As you may have assumed, the Mavs did indeed leave victorious. Backed by a masterful start from Zack Hlinsky and a solid WCBL debut from Gary Dornan, the Mavericks limited the 57s to just 4 runs, along with scoring 10 of their own.
Using their newfound momentum, they bypassed Lethbridge a night later with yet another punishing victory at home.
This sets the stage for the team’s first Sunday afternoon contest of the year, with hopes of once again taking over offensively. Through 4 games, the Mavericks have scored 52 runs, a feat that may not be sustainable long term, but for now, it seems unbreakable. This kind of production will be a tall task for the 57s to match.
If there is one positive for Swift, it’s that they’re due. No team has ever gone 0-56, and there’s nothing that suggests the 57s will be the first to. A player like Brody Alexandre has been around this group during successful spurts in the past, and he will be relied on heavily to lead this group to their first win. There is no denying that the ’57s will be motivated by the idea of spoiling what has been an ideal start for Medicine Hat.
Speaking of starts, Danny Retzlaff will make his first appearance of the season, becoming the last Mavs pitcher to do so. It’s an exciting opportunity for the Colorado State University Pueblo freshman to experience playing in front of a rowdy home crowd. It will be important for the young starter to focus on his pace throughout the game in order to help the rest of his crew settle in.
The Mavericks look to hunt down win number 5 at home as they welcome the Swift Current 57s to Athletic Park. Following tonight’s game, fans will turn their attention to the ice as the Medicine Hat Tigers take on the London Knights in the Memorial Cup final. It’s an exciting day for sports in the Gas City, and both clubs are hoping to make it a memorable one.