(Photo by Colton McKee, coltonmckeephotography.com)
Truman Bartman | themavericks.ca
Headed down two very different paths, the newly energized Swift Current 57s and the snake-bitten Medicine Hat Mavericks prepare to face off for the fifth time this summer.
Through the first four meetings between the pair, it has been the Mavericks who have had the upper hand, taking three of the games, while also putting up double-digit runs in all three.
Away from their games against the 57s, the Mavericks have struggled mightily to pick up any momentum. Coming off a two-game series against the Saskatoon Berries, where the Mavericks dropped both games, Medicine Hat continues to look for a spark early in the year.
Swift Current, who were in search of their own spark not long ago, have found it over their last two contests with wins over the Regina Red Sox. Helping the 57s’ offence reach new heights this season, Jake Hiromoto and Keegan Knowler have emerged as two of the WCBL’s top power bats.
Hiromoto leads the 57s with 34 hits through his first 22 games and is tied with Knowler for the team’s lead in home runs with 8.
As for Knowler, during his last appearance at Athletic Park, he kicked off his night with a grand slam to centre field. Having plenty of confidence at the plate, Knowler is a batter that the Mavs staff will have to take seriously, especially with runners on base.
The task of keeping the 57s’ rising offence at bay will be assigned to Diego Centella. In his second year with the Mavericks, Centella’s numbers haven’t stood out like the ones he put up a summer ago. However, the Mavs righty has shown he can recover well in the face of adversity.
With an off day on Thursday, the Mavericks will have most of their bullpen arms activated for this evening’s game, which could be critical if Medicine Hat gets off to another slow start. Over the last 4 outings at Athletic Park, the Mavs have only seen one of their starting pitchers pitch past the second inning. Looking to preserve the bullpen for not only Friday’s game but also those on the weekend, Mavs Coach Ryan Reed will be banking on a lengthy start to open up the Mavs home stand.
As a potential storm makes its way into the Gas City, both the 57s and Mavericks are hoping for more than just a successful night on the diamond but also a full one. Clinging onto a playoff spot with the 57s in hot pursuit, the Medicine Hat Mavericks welcome their long-time divisional foes back to Athletic Park to begin their home stand.