Watch & Listen to Yolo @ Oakland
Game 04 Action starting at 6:35PM PDT from Raimondi Park
YOLO HIGH WHEELERS (16-20) @ OAKLAND BALLERS (23-16)
Watch the game live on FloSports
Listen to the Audio Only Commentary on YouTube LIVE
Pitching Matchup:
Yolo–LHP–Brandon Mitchell (1-1, 7.36) @ Oakland–RHP–Aaron Eden (2-3, 8.40)
Probables for Oakland (Saturday-Sunday at 1:05 p.m.)
7/6–Yolo–RHP-Ben Ferrer (2-2, 7.04) @ Oakland–LHP–Reed Butz (0-0, 5.34)
7/7–Yolo–RHP-JC Ariza (0-2, 5.02) @ Oakland–RHP–Christian Cosby (4-1, 4.79)
TONIGHT'S STARTING PITCHER–33–LHP–BRANDON MITCHELL (1-1, 7.36)
-makes seventh start/appearance; earned first professional win on June 15 @ Northern Colorado
-against Oakland is 0-0 in two starts/games; 7.56 ERA, 8 K
-four seasons at the University of New Orleans (22-15, 4.45 ERA)
-was 11-3 in his senior season (last year) with a 3.65 ERA
-summer league was Texas Collegiate in 2020 for Acadiana Cane Cutters (Youngsville, La.)
-Elsik High School (Houston, Tx.) alum, played baseball, football, and tennis for the Rams
-First-Team All-District at Elsik; was a kicker in high school only for playoff games
GAME LOGS:
Date Opponent IP H R ER BB K DEC SCORE
5/26 (G1) Rocky Mountain 3 5 4 4 4 2 ND 7-10
6/2 Grand Junction 4 3 3 3 5 3 ND 14-6
6/8 @Oakland 4 1⁄3 6 5 5 3 4 ND 11-6
6/15 @Northern Colorado 6 4 3 3 3 5 W 10-8
6/22 Oakland 4 4 5 4 2 4 L 6-9
6/29 '@Idaho Falls 4 1⁄3 8 3 3 2 0 ND 12-6
HIGH WHEELERS POSITION PLAYERS
2 KIRKLAND BANKS Last Game: 2-4 Hitting Streak: No Games
-three hits in ten AB's in three games against Oakland–last three days (.300)
-first four-hit game of season on 6/12 @ NOCO.; HR back-to-back games at OAK 6/7-8
-Lamar University alum, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana; loves eating alligator
-with Frederick (MLB Draft League) last year, (.387, 7, 29, 6 SB)
-was multi-offensive threat in five seasons of football at Lamar, primarily played wide receiver
-graduate of Barbe High School; helped lead the Buccaneers to three state titles in baseball
4 BRAYLIN MARINE Last Game: DNP Hitting Streak: No Games
-inside the park two-run homer on Tuesday vs. OAK; first inside park HR in Yolo history
-three homers in his last three games; streak of reaching base safely is at 23 games
-string of scoring a run in 11 straight games ended on Tuesday (17 total runs in span)
-hitting streak of 16 games (35-76, .461) ended 6/27; hits in 20-of-last-22 games
-two homers on 6/30 at Idaho Falls (first two-HR game), was 12-25, 8 RBI's , 11 R in series @ IDH (,480)
-on 6/26 @ IDF was the second game this season with at least four hits (6/18 vs. Oakland had five hits)
-five hits 6/18 vs. OAK; first five-hit game in team history; five runs also tops on Yolo in one game
-pro career best six RBI's on 6/16 at NOCO; went 3-6; three-double in 9th
-last season at Mahoning Valley (MLB Draft League) (.318, 0, 17, 13 SB)
-five seasons at NCAA—Division II-- Newberry (SC) College; all-time SB leader with 100
5 BRAYLAND SKINNER Last Game: 1-5; 2B; R Hitting Streak: One Game (1-5)
-two three-hit games in series at IDF; six three-hit games this season; 2-14 in last three games
-first two homers on 6/8 @ OAK & seven RBI's in game, most by a High Wheeler
-played two seasons at Mississippi State and one year at University of Memphis
-member of the 2021 NCAA College World Series Champion Mississippi State Bulldogs
-finished second steals in the American Athletic Conference for Memphis last year with 22
-last season was in the MLB Draft League with Williamsport (.333, 1, 19, 12 SB)
7 BRAEDON BLACKFORD Last Game: 2-5; HR; 3 RBI's Hit Streak: Four Games (7-16)
-homers in two straight games (seven this season, five round trippers vs. Oakland);
-six-of-his-last-seven hits are for extra bases
-first pro Grand Slam on 6/21 vs. OAK; 9-21(.429) in last series vs. Oakland (6/18-23) .
-three hits and four RBI's are most for him in one game this season on 6/21
-homered in three straight games @ OAK; 6/5-7, all solo, first High Wheeler with HR's in three consecutive games
-picked up the first hit in Yolo history with a first inning single on May 21
-played two years at Purdue Fort Wayne (NCAA-D-I, Horizon League)
-All-Horizon League First Team senior year at PFW, had 14 homers; prior to PFW played at Illinois State
-spent 2023 with State College (MLB Draft League), in 46 games, .270, 5, 34, 3 SB
9 MASON MINZEY Last Game: DNP Hitting Streak: No Games
-three hits (all singles) in season opener on May 21; three runs on 6/28 most for him in a game
-three seasons of college ball was at Ohio University after beginning varsity career at Texas Tech
-played 32 games last year w/Williamsport (MLB Draft League) (.268, 0, 6)
11 BOBBY LADA (LUH-DAY) Last Game: 1-4; BB; R; SB Hit Streak: Two Games (2-8)
-series at Idaho Falls: 11-27 (.407) with 13 RBI's; was 2-11 in three recent games vs. OAK (.182)
-seven RBI's on 6/29 at IDF; matches Braylin Skinner for most in one game for Yolo
- eighth HR on 6/29; fourth four-hit game this season also 6/29
-reached base safely a team record six times on 6/18 vs. OAK along with four steals–also team-high in a game
-had four hits (triple shy of the cycle) on 5/28 along with six RBI's vs. Grand Junction
-Grand Slam on 5/28 vs. GJ was first homer in Yolo history
-West Virginia in 2023 (MLB Draft League), .336, 3, 29, 21 SB
-two seasons for the University of Louisiana, and finished college career at NAIA William Carey
14 JUSTIN KIRBY Last Game: 0-1 as PH Hitting Streak: No Games
-two hits in 14 AB's in series at Idaho Falls (.143); three hits in last 19 AB's (.158)
-streak of ten straight games scoring at least one run ended 6/25 (12 in that span)
-first pro homer was 6/11 @ Northern Colorado; two total in series
-outfielder signed on May 28th for his first pro contract; two hits on 5/28 in pro debut vs. GJ
-went to spring training with Fargo (American Association) and Missoula (Pioneer League)
-played four seasons at Kent State University (Kent, Ohio) & last year at Auburn
-amassed 29 homers with Kent State and eight at Auburn; originally from Alpharetta, Ga.
-was Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year at Kent State in 2019 (.313, 9, 30)
23 JOSE GONZALEZ Last Game: 0-4; BB R Hitting Streak: No Games
-hitting streak of 12 games ended yesterday, was 22-50 over the dozen contests (.440)
-three hits in 12 AB's in recent three games vs. OAK; has reached base safely in 13 straight games
-four hits on 6/25 @ Idaho Falls; other four-hit game was June 2; 12-26 at Idaho Falls (.462)
-three homers in series @OAK (6/4-9) and three more in series at Northern Colorado (6/11-16)
-two homers 6/4 @ Oakland; first two homers of season; first Yolo player with two HR in a game
-amassed 33 homers in his Texas State University Bobcats career with a .290 average; played in 2022 NCAA Tourney
31 TANNER SMITH Last Game: 2-4; 2 RBI's Hitting Streak: Three Games (6-11)
-five hits over last two games (all singles); first three-hit game of season the other day
-streak of reaching base in 16 straight games ended on 6/22 going 0-1 as PH
-nine-game hit streak (11-34, .324) snapped 6/18; was hitless in first 15 AB's this year
-second professional season; last year with Tri-City (Frontier League) .289, 3, 23
-homered in back-to-back games at Oakland 6/7-8; first two homers of the season
-ALL-TIME Oregon leader in homers with 31, RBI's with 58, games started 246, doubles with 69
-Honorable Mention, All Pac-12 Conference in 2023 (.327, 11, 45)
35 ANGEL MENDOZA Last Game: 0-2; SAC Hitting Streak: No Games
-five hits in last 43 AB's (.116)
-second homer on 6/28 @ Idaho Falls; solo in third inning; first pro HR was 6/4 @ OAK
-last year was with Trenton (MLB Draft League), .185, 0, 8 , hit homer against the Savannah Bananas
-Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2023 at Union College (KY)
-established single season school record with 25 homers, and 27 hit by pitches (.404, 25, 53)
-was third in the league in batting average at .404
-won the Gold Glove as catcher for the conference; helped lead Bulldogs to the NAIA Playoffs
37 KYLE GUERRA Last Game: 2-4 Hitting Streak: Two Games (3-8)
-four hits in last 18 AB's (.222); played second base for the first time this season on 6/28
-became first position player to pitch for Yolo; scoreless ninth inning on 6/19 vs. Oakland
-second professional season; signed by the High Wheelers out of a tryout camp
-last season in Pecos League with the San Rafael Pacifics (42 games, .365, 4, 44, 32 SB)
-at Cal State Monterey Bay (NCAA-Division II); played four seasons with Otters (.296 lifetime)
44 ALEJANDRO FIGUEREDO Last Game: 1-3; 2B; R; BB Hitting Streak: Three Games (3-10)
-was 9-23 (.391) in series at Idaho Falls with three RBI's; two hits in six AB's vs. OAK the last two days
-first baseman joined High Wheelers 6/19 from Billings (Pioneer League) .329, 3, 23, 21 games (Billings totals)
-hit first homer in a Yolo uniform 6/20; has four overall this year between Yolo & Billings
-hitting streaks of five & six games this season, has two four-RBI games this year with Billings
-played at Billings last season (.287, 9, 38) for now Yolo manager Billy Horton
-originally from Sucre, Venezuela; three seasons at Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Florida
-overall had 41 homers in college, Florida Gulf Coast University is NCAA-DI (Atlantic Sun Conference)
-Third Team All-America & First Team All Conference in 2023 at FGCU–.361, 23, 71
HIGH WHEELERS BULLPEN (CURRENT SERIES): (0-1; 9 2⁄3 IP, 16 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 6 K, 6.52)
10 NOAH ESTRELLA Last Appearance: 7/3 vs. Oakland (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER)
-signed from Pioneer League tryout camp in Arizona; allowed two ER runs over last five appearances, 3.60
-pitched two seasons at New Mexico State (39 games overall with Aggies, was 5-3); appeared in 2022 NCAA
-last two summers with Pulaski in the Appalachian League (MLB Draft), combined 2-1 in 15 games
-father Erick was his high school coach at Flowing Hills in Tucson
17 JACK ZALASKY Last Appearance: 7/4 vs. Oakland (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER)
-string of three straight scoreless outings snapped yesterday allowing two runs in seventh inning
-was 2-0 in series at IDF with two shutout frames; fourth win of the year on 6/29 matches team-high w/Stobart
-earned his first win of season on 5/28 vs. GJ; recorded final out & picked up first SV in team history on May 21
-last year at Mahoning Valley (MLBDL) 1-0, 7.88, 12 games; native of Sacramento, alum of Elk Grove HS
-five seasons at Sac State was 16-9, 3.23 with 26 saves; ; led Western Athletic Conference in saves in 2023 with 11
-father Pat pitched at Sacramento State; grandfather played football at Sac State
22 NOAH LEWIS Last Appearance: 7/3 vs. Oakland (2 IP, BB, 3 K)
-continues to excel; 1.42 ERA in 8 games; 12 2⁄3 innings with six strikeouts, two shutout innings Wednesday
-signed 6/11 by Yolo; preserved team's first shutout on 6/21 pitching eighth and ninth innings vs. Oakland
-first year pro began this season with the Marysville Drakes (1-1, 3.30) of the Pecos League where he was a starter
-went to spring training with the High Wheelers before being let go before the season
-pitched and played right field at Contra Costa Community College; alum of Foothill HS in Pleasanton, California
25 TY BUCKNER Last Appearance: 6/29 @ Idaho Falls (1 IP, K)--two scoreless outings @ IDF
-allowed first earned run in a home game on 6/22 vs. Oakland, home totals 6 2⁄3 IP, 1 ER, 1.42 ERA
-picked up two saves in last series at Northern Colorado; leads the team with three saves
-spent three years pitching for Missouri State and one with Gonzaga (college career 8-9, 5.32)
-State College last year (MLB Draft) was 1-2 in 26 games with six saves, 1.74
-originally from St. Louis; missed two years in college with Achillies injury & Tommy John Surgery
30 TURNER THOMPSON Last Appearance: 7/4 vs. Oakland (1 IP, H, K)
-three earned runs over last three appearances; played two seasons each at Tulane & Samford University
-signed 6/18 by Yolo; grew up in Tampa where he still lives; father Mark was college teammate of Billy Horton
-this season at Samford (Birmingham, AL) was 0-0; 18 games, 8.55 ERA, 3-3 lifetime at Samford
-alum of Tampa Jesuit High School where the school won a state title when he was there
32 KRIS ANGLIN Last Appearance: 6/18 vs. Oakland (1 IP, 3 BB)
-activated today from injured list, placed on IL June 21st
-lone High Wheeler with affiliated experience (Atlanta and Detroit systems) ; 4-8 MiLB record
-didn't pitch competitively after spring training last season, spent 2023 working out and pitching on side
-Bakersfield native who attended Frontier High School
34 CONNOR LANGRELL Last Appearance: 7/4 vs. Oakland (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K, HR)
-struggled in last two outings (both vs. Oakland) given up six runs (all earned) in two innings, nine hits
-second save with a perfect ninth inning on 6/26 @ IDF; first save since 5/29 vs. Grand Junction
-earned first win of the season on last road trip on 6/16 @ Northern Colorado with 1 2⁄3 shutout effort
-last season with Williamsport (MLB Draft) (0-0, 2.52, 23 games (all relief) ; three seasons DII Newman University in Wichita
-spent last college year (2023) as graduate player at Bradley University (2-1, 11 saves); originally from Tampa area
47 JACOB STOBART Last Appearance: 6/30 @ Idaho Falls (3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K)
-struggled in series at Idaho Falls; two appearances was 0-1, 11.25, 4 K
-fourth-win on 6/14 @ Northern Colorado; tied with Jack Zalasky for most wins on team
-first win in team history pitching two innings in resumption of game from May 21st vs. Rocky Mountain
-second year in Pioneer League, played for manager Billy Horton last year with Billings (2-1, 2.38, six games)
-pitched much of last year with Aigles de Trois-Rivieres in Frontier League (0-0, 6.26, 22 games)
-attended Stephen F. Austin University; six wins in three seasons with Lumberjacks; originally from Phoenix
TEAM GAME HIGHS
Runs: 19 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Runs Allowed 12 6/7 @ Oakland & 6/27 @ Idaho Falls
Hits: 21 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Hits Allowed: 15 6/7 @ Oakland & 6/27 @ Idaho Falls
Home Runs 5 6/8 @ Oakland
Errors: 3 Three Times last: 6/22 vs. Oakland
Runs in inning: 9 5/28 vs. Grand Junction (Eighth Inning)
Strikeouts for Pitchers: 14 6/4 @ Oakland
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Hits 5 Braylin Marine 6/18 vs. Oakland
RBI's 7 Accomplished Twice last: Bobby Lada 6/29 @ Idaho Falls
Walks 3 Multiple Times last: Braedon Blackford 6/4 @ Oakland
Runs 5 Braylin Marine/Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Reaching Safely 6X Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Home Runs 2 Accomplished 3X last: Braylin Marine 6/30 @ Idaho Falls
Stolen Bases 4 Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
INDIVIDUAL PITCHING SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Innings 6 1⁄3 Ben Ferrer 6/16 @ Northern Colorado
Hits 10 Accomplished Twice last: Cameron Repetti 6/25 @ Idaho Falls
Strikeouts 9 Multiple Times last: Cameron Repetti 6/18 vs. Oakland
Walks 6 Brandon McPherson 6/20 vs. Oakland
Earned Runs 7 Accomplished Twice last: Cameron Repetti 6/25 @ Idaho Falls
STARTING GAMES BY POSITION
C Mendoza (24), Minzey (12)
1B Gonzalez (17), Figueredo (9), Kuchinski (6), Minzy (3), Blackford (1)
2B Lada (22), Banks (11), Marine (2), Guerra (1)
3B Blackford (18), Banks (14), Kuchinski (2), Leslie (2)
SS Marine (27), Lada (9)
LF Gonzalez (10), Kirby (10), Smith (9), Banks (4), Blackford (2), Guerra (1)
CF Skinner (31), Guerra (5)
RF Smith (19), Kirby (10), Guerra (6), Gonzalez (1)
DH Kuchinski (9), Gonzalez (5), Marine (5), Blackford (4), Figueredo (3), Skinner (3), Banks (2), Lada (2)
Smith (2), Minzey (1)
STARTING BATTING ORDER
1—Skinner (31), Marine (5)
2—Marine (26), Lada (7), Smith (3)
3–Lada (21), Blackford (5), Smith (3), Gonzalez (2), Minzy (2), Banks (1), Kuchinski (1), Marine (1)
4-Gonzalez (24), Kuchinksi (10), Blackford (2)
5-Figueredo (10), Blackford (7), Banks (5), Gonzalez (5), Kuchinski (4), Smith (2), Figueredo (1), Lada (1), Minzey (1)
6--Blackford (9), Kirby (8), Smith (5), Banks (3), Kuchinski (2), Lada (2), Marine (2), Minzey (2), (1) Figueredo, Gonzalez, Skinner
7—Smith (12), Banks (9), Kirby (8), Lada (3), Blackford (1), Mendoza (1), Minzy (1), Skinner (1)
8—Banks (11), Guerra (6), Smith (5), Kirby (4), Minzey (4), Leslie (2), Mendoza (2), Blackford (1), Skinner (1)
9–Mendoza (21), Guerra (7), Minzey (6), Banks (1), Gonzalez (1)
