High Wheelers come back falls short in KO
Thrilling game at Melaleuca Field, leaves Yolo 0-3 in KO rounds
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds
0-0
7
Idaho Falls Chukars
0-0
7
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 |
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 2 |
It was a valiant comeback attempt by the Yolo High Wheelers (14-14) but in the end the Idaho Falls Chukars (12-19) won the knockout round to take the first game of the series on Tuesday at Melaleuca Field. Idaho Falls first baseman Brett Barrera outhomered Yolo second baseman Bobby Lada 2-1. The nine inning portion ended 7-7. Yolo has lost three straight games--it's second such streak and is now 0-3 in the KO round.
Idaho Falls jumped out early as the Chukars scored three in the first and four runs in the fourth. In the opening frame the runs came courtesy of an RBI single by Barrera, and sacrifice flies by designated hitter Trevor Rogers, and third baseman Roberto Gonzalez. Yolo got a run back in the third inning on a ground out by shortstop Braylin Marine but in the fourth the Chukars extended the lead to 7-1 with the big hit coming on a two-run single by Rogers.
The score stayed that way until the eighth when Yolo plated three. Shortstop Bobby Lada, left fielder Jose Gonzalez, and first baseman Alejandro Figueredo singled in succession with Figueredo driving in a run. Designated hitter Braedon Blackford hit a fly ball RBI double to left, scoring Gonzalez which made it 7-3. The third run came on a fielding error by Gonzalez and that scored Figueredo which tightened it to 7-4. Yolo had a chance for more but left runners at second and third. Idaho Falls reliever Garret Crowley struck out all three batters after coming in during the rally.
However, Crowley was not as dominant in the ninth when Yolo tied the game with three runs. Marine led off with a single which extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Lada (7) immediately followed with a two-run homer to left-center closing it to 7-6. Two batters later, with one out, Figueredo singled to left. He was lifted for pinch runner Kyle Guerra who stole second. He moved to third when Blackford grounded to shortstop. Then with the game on the line and two out, right fielder Justin Kirby hit a ground ball single to left which tied the game at seven.
Yolo manager Billy Horton said of the rallies, "the guys did a great job clawing back into the game with some big-time clutch hits. I'm proud of them."
Yolo closer Ty Buckner pitched a scoreless ninth sending it to the knockout round.
Right-hander Cameron Repetti was the starter for Yolo. He allowed seven runs (all earned) on ten hits in four innings and struck out three. However, the bullpen pulled its weight combining five shutout innings, with five strikeouts, and two hits. Noah Lewis pitched two innings (fifth and sixth) and in five games with Yolo has yet to allow a run in eight innings.
Idaho Falls starter Owen Sharts struck out eight in six innings and issued one run (earned).
Game two of this series is on Wednesday in Idaho Falls at 6:05 p.m. PST. Left-hander Dawson Lake (0-2) is the scheduled starter for Yolo.
HIGH TALES:
Everyone in the Yolo lineup reached base safely
Marine waited until the ninth inning (single) to extend his hitting streak. Over the 15 games he's 31-71, .437 and has reached base safely in 16 straight contests
Kirby's string of scoring a run in ten straight games came to an end
In addition to his homer in the ninth, Lada singled in the eighth. The single snapped a 1-19 (.053) slump
Center fielder Brayland Skinner's hitting streak of eight came to an end, however, he walked twice. His consecutive game streak of reaching base safely is 14
The ten hits allowed by Repetti match Shaun Gamelin for most allowed by a High Wheeler this year and the seven runs surrendered tie a team-high with Dawson Lane