Mavs weathered mid-season departures with timely additions
The Medicine Hat
Mavericks have handled their share of player departures this season.
Seven players from the Mavericks’ opening day roster left the club at various points for different reasons. That is part of the program for a team in the WCBL, according to Mavericks owner/GM Greg Morrison.
“It’s part of the challenge as a coach and a GM, which is, how do you get your players here on time, how do you get them staying healthy and how do you get them staying as long as you can,” Morrison said. “This conversation, you could have it with 10 other teams right now and that’s how it’s always been. I always took pride in just trying to get the guys here early, getting that team culture... To win in this league and win a championship, you need a lot of talent and a lot of things to go right, and that’s why I love it. That’s why you cherish championships in any league in any sport, because it’s the same story everywhere.”
He said seeing players like Adrian Salazar, who received a pro contract to play baseball in Mexico, and both Nate Ade and Kellen Williamson receiving Div. I offers is why he does his job, even if it’s hard to see them leave.
“It’s to keep these guys getting more exposure, it’s really why I do it. Whether a kid is from Arizona and goes to the Mexican league, or it’s a Medicine Hat kid who comes and gets some innings that he never got at school and now has an impactful next year at his college. That’s really why I do it, is for the players and just trying to get them what they need,” Morrison said. “I would have loved to keep those guys here because they were impact players. But I know where we fit in the stepping stone of a player’s career, and as much as wanting to win every game is important to me, being a guy who has had those opportunities, I know that guys have to do what they have to do for their own careers.”
To fill those holes left with the departures, the Mavericks added pitcher Zac Robinson and catcher/first basemen Andrew Savage at the end of June. They recently brought on infielder Ranciel Ventura and outfielder/pitcher Christian Rush to fill out the holes as they head toward the post season. All four have become staples in the Mavs’ everyday lineup, with Ventura at shortstop or third base, Rush in left field, Savage at either of his positions and Robinson starting and coming out of the bullpen.
Morrison said they’ve impressed him and have done more than expected of them.
“Savage has a presence out there and you can see him talking to pitchers like, ‘let’s go, let’s get going here,’ so I was really impressed with that.” Morrison said. “Rush has been showing the bat a little bit and Ventura is a plus defender. I’m very pleased with how he’s looked out there. This stuff bodes well for the future but I don’t want to be looking to the future, I want to look at right now and those guys have they’ve done more than what I’ve expected.”
He said the recruiting process for next season generally starts after their final game when players are handing in their jerseys before returning home. That’s when Morrison said they’ll talk and try to, “plant the seed.”
The Mavericks were in action Tuesday night on the heels of a 6-2 loss Monday in Swift Current against the 57’s. Medicine Hat hosted the Lethbridge Bulls at Athletic Park on Tuesday. That game was not complete by time of press, visit medicinehatnews. com/sports for a full story.