(Randy Ferre Photography)

Truman Bartman | themavericks.ca

When David Dell hears the name “Medicine Hat,” he can’t help but grin. The name takes him back to some of his most enjoyable days as a baseball player. The Missouri native has spent most of his life playing baseball, and the sport has afforded him a chance to explore beyond his hometown.

Back in 2022, Dell jumped at the opportunity to move to a new country for the summer and try his hand at summer collegiate baseball. This first trip across the border would provide an even greater return, even after his playing days were over.

During his lone stint as a player with the Medicine Hat Mavericks, Dell helped the team reach the postseason while batting a solid .293 over the course of the regular season.

Fast forward 4 years, and Dell is no longer eligible to play collegiate baseball. Wanting to remain in the baseball world, he took his talents to the coaching world in hopes of making an impact on the diamond in a different way.

“It was definitely a lot different getting into coaching, but I’ve enjoyed it so far. I’ve had a lot of good mentors as I’ve kind of slowly gotten into it, and I’ve learned a lot in each place that I’ve gone to. That’s been my biggest thing when I visit new places: making new connections and learning new things, not just from a player’s perspective but now from a coach’s perspective.”

Like anything, building those connections and developing as a coach takes time, and Dell is well aware of that. Being a former collegiate ballplayer, Dell realizes that all players learn differently and at different rates. He feels his ability to relate to players and meet them where they are at is a big part of his strength as a coach.

“Being able to work with guys and develop relationships with them, you might not see immediate results when you’re coaching, but at the end of the day, it’s just planting the seed for many of them. They may not even realize until years down the road. I was the same way as a player, where it wasn’t until I became a senior that I really understood what certain things meant.”

Even as he enters familiar territory in the WCBL, there’s still a lot of growth to be had for the young skipper. However, one thing he won’t be lacking as a coach in the WCBL is his understanding of the league and the high level of competition that it has to offer, no matter the matchup.

“I think throughout the league, it doesn’t matter who you play; every organization wants to win a championship. In my time playing summer ball, you just don’t see that in a lot of leagues. It’s not just guys doing things for themselves and just developing on their own; the guys that come up here want to win.”

On a more personal level, it’s less about the results for Dell and more about rekindling the joy he felt last time he set foot in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Born in Jefferson City, Missouri, a mere 23-hour car ride from Athletic Park, the feelings Dell gets from being in his hometown are reciprocated when he’s in the Gas City. Getting a chance to return up north was an opportunity that felt like he couldn’t pass up.

“I knew before I even came up as a player how passionate the fans were in Medicine Hat. When I finally got the experience, it blew me away, starting with the support that we got. It was just an awesome experience, and when I saw the job opening for the assistant role this past fall, I got super excited, and I applied right then and there. Medicine Hat is like a second home to me, and I couldn’t wait to be back.”

Serving as the Mavericks’ assistant coach this summer, David Dell couldn’t be happier to return to a community that he associates with many of his fondest summer baseball memories. Results are always nice, but the small moments for Dell are what’s most rewarding.