Mavericks return to renovated Athletic Park
Medicine Hat News
Baseball fans will get not only a new look at the Medicine Hat Mavericks when the 2010 Western Baseball League season opens up in May, but a glance at the renovations at Athletic Park.
Fans will see approximately 750 plastic stadium seats with backs as well as a new infield irrigation system and a retrofit to the concessions.
“It’s been something in the works for the past 10 years and it will provide an environment for fun and entertainment,” said Mavericks owner and manager Greg Morrison.
And while fans stroll into the stadium seeing the facelift, the Mavericks on-field product will be familiar to local faithful.
“We probably have three-quarters of our kids coming back and that’s always a good sign. These kids are trying to go a higher college or pro level of baseball. Some of the older guys that are done school want to come back because they’re knocking on the doorstep of the opportunity to play professionally and I tell them, ‘they should try to play as long you can and at the highest level you can,’” said Morrison.
The Mavericks averaged 600 fans per game last season and Morrison feels they created a good atmosphere for players and fans.
“It’s a great ambiance. I remember playing in the Florida State League where we would get six people out there and it felt like a practice. It’s neat at this level that people are coming out and there’s a nice energy at the ballpark,” added Morrison.
Two local pitchers, Bruce Forester and Katlin Nunweiler will return to the Mavs line up.
“It’s easier to take pitchers. We had a few other guys that struggled last season at both defensively and offensively.“
“I’d like to have the whole team local, that way you would have every friend and parent and have 1,500 per game. But, at the same time, you need to produce and put out a winning product. People don’t really talk to me and ask ’why aren’t there more local guys?’ They wouldn’t go up to Willie Desjardins and ask that - so why come up and say it to me?” said Morrison.
Last season, the Mavericks finished third in the west division with a 20-26 record and were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Okotoks Dawgs.
The Mavericks 2010 home opener is May 30 when they host the Lethbridge Bulls, but before that, some work still remains.
70 — REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA 2010 ■ Celebrating our Community
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“It’s busy times again, just as busy as last winter. But having one year under my belt I know now we can pull it off. We had some growing pains, but had a good season on the field.”
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