Mavs eclipse .500 mark

The Medicine Hat Mavericks passed the .500 mark for the first time the season on Friday, jumping to 9-8 with an 11-5 win over the Fort McMurray Giants at Shell Place.

After opening the season on a 1-6 skid, Medicine Hat surged back up the standings — going 8-2 over the next 10 contests to creep within 2 and 1/2 games of the WMBL’s Western Division leading Okotoks Dawgs.

Medicine Hat got everything they needed out of starter Tanner Helms Friday. The Louisiana product held Fort McMurray in check, allowing three runs on seven hits while his team’s bats put on a show.

Rock Jordan kicked off another frenzied offensive night for the Mavericks with a 2-RBI double in the second after an error, a hit and a walk put Giants starter Tyler Hodder in a bases loaded jam.

Chris Caffrey kept the order moving with an RBI single in the third, then Caleb Longley crossed on an error before Jackson Freed brought Caffrey home with a sacrifice fly.

Blake Rowlett continued the scoring with a sac fly in the fourth, then Jaxson Hooge scored on an error from catcher Joshua Iannetti — one of Fort Mac’s five on the night. Chris Wright capped off the 8-0 run with an RBI groundout.

The Giants finally put an end to the bleeding in the home half of the fourth after Brendan Halstrom cashed a pair with an RBI double. But the Mavericks answered back with a two-spot in the fifth thanks to a passed ball and an RBI single from Caffrey — who finished the night at 4-for-5 with 2 RBI.

Halstrom cashed another for Fort Mac in the sixth to finish 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, but again the Mavs answered with an RBI fielder’s choice from Rowlett in the seventh.

Hodder was charged with the loss after allowing eight runs — six of which were unearned — on seven hits through four innings, dropping him to 2-1 on the season. The Giants slipped to 5-12.

Ryan Dunn and Ryan Villareal each added an RBI to create some hope for a rally in the bottom of the ninth, but Mavericks reliever Nelson Quark ended the night with a groundout back to the mound.

The Mavericks will look to continue their rise up the standings with a two-game set against the Edmonton Prospects (9-7) at ReMax Field on Saturday and Sunday.