(Photo by Colton McKee, coltonmckeephotography.com)
TRUMAN BARTMAN | themavericks.ca
The Medicine Hat Mavericks first homestand of the season comes to a close as the Swift Current 57s make their first visit to Athletic Park. In a game that was cancelled a week prior due to rainy conditions, Monday night looks to have clear skies, perfect for baseball!
Meeting once already at Mitchell Field, it was the Mavericks who had their way with the 57s’ pitching staff, scoring 24 runs and mercy-ruling Swift Current in the process. 7 Mavs recorded 3 or more hits, which included the likes of Josh Stark and Eric Calder, who have been two of the WCBL’s hottest left-handed hitters.
Stark has turned it on in his second season with Medicine Hat, batting .429 with 3 home runs. Now sitting 2nd in the league in home runs, 3rd in RBIs, and 3rd in OPS, Stark has cemented himself as an early MVP candidate.
As for Calder, his athleticism at first base has been a noticeable positive for the Mavs over the weekend. Pair his polished defence with a .563 on-base percentage, and you’re looking at a potential game breaker if you’re Medicine Hat.
Swift Current has a few supersies of their own that have taken off in 2026, headlined by WCBL home run leader Jake Hiromoto. Playing for the San Francisco Dons in the NCAA, Hiromoto did not register a hit in 6 games, but his time with the 57s has proven those numbers were a fluke. After losing all three of their all-star batters from last summer, Hiromoto’s surge has come at a perfect time.
It’s the same story for the 57s on the mound who watched their 2025 ace, Adam Korte, join the Saskatoon Berries, but have found a solid replacement in Zachary Desylva. In Desylva’s last start against Saskatoon, he managed to go the distance, throwing 9 brilliant innings en route to upsetting the East Division’s top team and securing his first WCBL complete game.
Entering tonight’s game at 2-5, the 57s hope that their group has more surprises in store as they look to stun a Mavericks team that has had their number over the past two seasons. It’s also been a few years since the 57s qualified for the WCBL playoffs, with their last postseason bid coming in 2023. If they hope to get into the playoffs again, divisional games like the one they have against the Mavericks are crucial.
Medicine Hat remains right along the playoff line through two weeks of the season; however, their group has seen flashes of greatness in games like the one they played at Swift Current. The story of the Mavs’ season at home continues to be their inability to hold onto late-game leads. They look to put an end to their home-field frustrations before they head out on the road for two games.
Looking to close out their run of home games with a win, the Medicine Hat Mavericks invite the Swift Current 57s to Athletic Park in an Eastern Division tilt, beginning at 6:45 pm.