Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds
Composite Schedule

Marine Propels Yolo to KO Victory

Marine's clutch hit seals dramatic win for Yolo High Wheelers.

Marine Propels Yolo to KO Victory
Video Box Score

Colorado Springs, Co.--The Yolo High Wheelers (32-29; 9-6) were delivered a gut punch in the bottom of the ninth, however, they bounced back and delivered the knockout round blow defeating the Rocky Mountain Vibes (27-34; 6-9) 2-1 in two rounds on Thursday night at UCHealth Park.  The nine inning portion ended 6-6.  Yolo has won two-of-the-first-three contests in this series and jumps to 3-5 in KO rounds.

 
It was Yolo shortstop Braylin Marine who bested Rocky Mountain's Dane Tofteland in the second round 1-0.  In the first round Yolo's Edwin DeLaCruz, and Rocky Mountain right fielder Steven Rivas each had one round-tripper.  It capped a productive night for Marine who snapped out of a 1-15 slump with three hits (two singles, and an RBI double).  Marine homered off Yolo bench coach Gary Davenport.  
 
"Certain guys like to throw to certain guys, and Marine is one of them," Davenport said.  "This is not normal batting practice."
 
Despite the win, the High Wheelers probably weren't thrilled it came down to the extra session.  Yolo was up 6-2 going to the bottom of the ninth but back-to-back two-run hits with two outs tied it against Yolo's Ty Buckner.  Rocky Mountain center fielder Austin Davis made it 6-4 on a two-run single to left and second baseman Ernie Yake evened matters on a two-run triple to right.  Buckner was removed for Connor Langrell who struck out Tofteland with the potential winning run (Yake) at third which ended regulation.
 
The star of the night for Yolo was starting pitcher Ben Ferrer.  The right-hander worked seven innings, allowed six hits, one run (earned), with no walks, and three strikeouts.  The run he gave up was a sacrifice fly in the sixth which snapped his streak of 12 straight scoreless innings going back to his prior start.
 
High Wheelers pitching coach Jerome Williams said, "Ferrer was pitching in and out of the zone.  He was using his strength and keeping batters off balance which was very impressive as he had come off illness to go seven innings with 86 pitches.  He shutdown a good hitting team."
 
Aside from Marine, offensive highlights for Yolo included a two-run first with RBI singles from left fielder Jose Gonzalez, and right fielder Tanner Smith.  Gonzalez also had a run-producing double in the eighth.  The two ninth inning runs for Yolo were a sacrifice fly for third baseman Travis Holt, and a single by center fielder Brayland Skinner.
 
Rocky Mountain starter Carlos Lomeli gave up three runs (all earned) over six innings.  He issued seven hits and fanned one.
 
Game four of this series will be Friday night at 5:35 PST.  Right-hander Brendan Knoll is the expected starter for Yolo against Rocky Mountain lefty Nick Powers.
 
HIGH TALES
Reliever Jack Zalasky pitched the eighth and while allowing a run it was not earned.  It's now eight straight outings  where he's not given up an earned run, a total of 8 2/3 innings.
 
Skinner had three hits which gives nine such contests.  Marine has 11 games of at least three hits.
 
Langrell has seven straight scoreless innings over his last six games with seven strikeouts
 
Yolo leads the season series 8-5 and are 3-3 through the first six games of this 21-game trip
 
Not counting the knockout round there's yet to be a homer this series