The Cavs' Wisconsin import says this year's going to be 'a bit different'

With a new team and coaching staff, including legendary Australian coach Jim Bennett, there’s a crackle in the air as the Canberra Cavalry heads into its last game of the season before the playoffs.

Part of that chemistry is pitcher Jack Mahoney.

At 6’8″ (203 cm), it’s unsurprising basketball once had designs on the big man out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But he says baseball has always been “it”.

It was also clear pretty early he’d end up in Australia at some stage of his career.

Jack started his baseball journey in the United States’ ubiquitous Little League – it was love at first pitch. But when he started growing three inches (8 cm) year-on-year, basketball emerged as an obvious contender.

“I always had more of a natural ability for baseball though and I have such a love for the game,” he says.

This instinct was vindicated when he was offered a baseball scholarship in junior high school to the University of Wisconsin – the state’s only university with a Division 1 baseball team.

After five years playing collegially with the Milwaukee Panthers, Jack’s first taste of professional baseball came when he joined the Milwaukee Milkmen.

Surrounded for the first time by professional players from all over the country, his network ballooned and the world expanded. It was then he first heard of intriguing opportunities in the land down under.

“One of my teammates had played for the Brisbane Bandits. He was a top-notch third baseman and that opened my eyes to the possibilities for professional players in Australia,” Jack says.

“Two years later, I was part of the Windy City ThunderBolts in the Frontier League in Chicago, playing for the former World Series champion for the Chicago White Sox 2005, Bobby Jenks. At the end of the season, I asked him if he had any connections in Australia.”

He did – pitching coach Mike Couchee of the Canberra Cavalry.

Jack, who has pitched several no-hitters since starting with The Cavs this season, is considered a rising star at the club. He’s drawn comparisons to former Cavs pitcher and global baseball star Shōta Imanaga (aka “The Throwing Philosopher”), who now has a contract worth more than $50 million.

“There are a lot of uncontrollable factors in baseball that have a lot to do with luck. A lot of it comes down to putting yourself in the position to receive that luck, and that’s what I try to do,” he says.

Cavs manager Jim Bennett says while Jack has had a “great start on the mound” for the team, his contributions extend off-field and he has a promising future.

“Jack is a quality guy that is great in the clubhouse,” Jim says. “The beauty of it all is that Jack’s ceiling is very high, he has a lot of potential that could turn him into a guy who could reach the highest level someday. I hope there is an affiliated club out there that sees his potential.”

The Wisconsin import has contributed to a solid start to the Cavs season, headlined by a sweep of the Brisbane Bandits in the team’s first week.

Jack reckons the team’s success so far this season is in no small part thanks to a careful blend of imports from the US, Japan, Korea, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, mixed with passionate Aussie players.

“Jim likes to emphasise to the imports the importance of this league to its local players. We practise most days at 4:30 pm because they’re mostly coming straight from work. That just adds to the respect I have for these guys. You have to admire that kind of hard work and dedication,” he says.

“Last year the Cavs had a tough season. We’re getting off to a good start and sweeping Brisbane in our first week was a highlight.

“You could feel the energy from the crowd and the team knowing it’s going to be a bit different this year.”

Round eight for the Canberra Cavalry takes place Friday 3 January, Saturday 4 January and Sunday 5 January – book via Vivenu.

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