Yolo Achieve Historic Shutout in 8-0 Victory
Gamelin Leads the Way as High Wheelers Secure Franchise-First Shutout
Oakland Ballers
15-13
0
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds
14-11
8
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
|
|
5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Davis, Ca.---It was a first in franchise history for both teams on Friday afternoon at Dobbins Stadium. The Yolo High Wheelers (14-11) pitched its first shutout in an 8-0 victory over the Oakland Ballers (15-13) who were blanked for the maiden time.
The Ballers stranded nine had plenty of chances including the first inning. Yolo starter Shaun Gamelin (1-1) walked the first three batters but got out of it, striking out the next two hitters and getting a flyball to end the inning.
Yolo took advantage in the bottom half scoring five times. Oakland starter (first pro start) Jacob Riordan (0-1) didn't get out of the first. He walked the first two High Wheelers. Two batters later left fielder Jose Gonzalez made it 1-0 with a single to left. The High Wheelers would load the bases with two out and that set the stage for third baseman Braedon Blackford (5) who belted a 2-1 fastball over the right field fence for a Grand Slam which made it 5-0.
Blackford said about his first pro Grand Slam, "I was just trying to shorten my swing and hit the ball hard, fortunately the ball had some lift to it and it went out of the yard."
The High Wheelers added a run in the second and two in the third. The other RBI contributors were second baseman Bobby Lada and center fielder Kyle Guerra on sacrifice flies, and center fielder Brayland Skinner with a single.
Gamelin was able to cruise after escaping the first. He worked five innings, allowed two hits, and struck out eight--the most for him this season.
"After the first inning, Gamelin bore down," said manager Billy Horton. "He got those three huge outs in the first and carried that into the second inning. After he was able to finish the first we were able to get to the bottom of that inning and come through with the Grand Slam," Horton added.
Relievers JC Ariza, Turner Thompson, and Noah Lewis combined to work four innings allowing one hit and two strikeouts. It was Ariza's return from the injured list (biceps), and Thompson's pro debut.
Horton went to college with Thompson's father Mark and said about Turner, "it was great to see him having a scoreless inning in his pro debut."
Lewis worked the final two innings and through four outings with Yolo has six shutout frames.
Yolo leads the series 3-1 and will attempt to win it on Saturday afternoon with a 4:30 PST first pitch. Oakland will send right-hander Derrick Cherry to the mound against Yolo lefty Brandon Mitchell.
HIGH TALES
Shortstop Braylin Marine extended his team-high hitting streak to 12 with a sixth inning single. He's 26-56 in that stretch, .464 and has reached base safely in his last 13 games
Through four games in this series the bullpen has given up one earned run in 17 2/3 innings, 0.51 ERA with 11 strikeouts