Disproving the Heinbach Hex
Brody Miller of the Missoula Mavericks slides safely into home, beating the tag of Kalispell pitcher Mario Venturini during the fourth inning Thursday night at Lindborg-Cregg Field. Photo by MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
But sometimes I can’t help but think I have a bit of a curse on teams I cover for the Missoulian. You could ask former Loyola Sacred Heart girls’ basketball coach Cara Cocchiarella about her 2003-04 Breakers team that lost a total of four games, but that’s another story for another time.
Take for example last night’s Class AA Missoula Mavericks game at Lindborg-Cregg Field.
My previous post from yesterday afternoon on prosandpreps.com was a plea to the public to come watch watch a team I consider the best Missoula legion ballclub I’ve seen in my years covering the Mavericks for the Missoulian.
I explained how the Mavs were set to take the state by storm, starting with their conference opener against the Kalispell Lakers last night. There was little doubt in my mind the Mavericks would use Thursday evening to add to their 23-game winning streak and their stellar 31-1 record.
“Come out to support your local boys on the diamond this evening. You won’t be disappointed,” I wrote.
Then the Mavs’ “outstanding defense” uncharacteristically committed seven errors, their “intimidating” batting order managed six hits – all by the combination of second baseman Brody Miller and left fielder Matt McMann – and the Lakers dealt Missoula a 7-6 defeat.
Did my post lauding the Mavericks have anything to with last night’s sub-standard performance? I highly doubt it and I sure as heck hope not.
I agreed with Missoula manager Brent Hathaway and assistants Brian Moser and Conor Dwyer when we discussed before the game how the streak would have to end at some point. One day, the defense was bound to have a tough go, while the Missoula offense that came in hitting .389 as a team would go cold and the starting pitching would suffer.
That game came last night, and now the Mavs are pleased to have a chance to erase last night’s memory with two conference clashes in the next two days in Whitefish against the Glacier Twins. They’ll even get another shot at the Lakers in Kalispell next Tuesday.
So let’s make a deal. If you don’t write off the 2010 Mavericks after just one disappointing conference game, I’ll do my best to keep from putting the Heinbach Hex on them the rest of the season. I don’t think that should be a problem for any of us.
– Michael Heinbach