LATHROP — Sierra’s Austin Frisk was a pitch away from a complete-game victory Friday night as the Timberwolves rolled to a 12-3 Valley Oak League win over Ripon at Islanders Field.
“I know Frisk really wanted to finish that game but those pitch-count rules are there for a reason,” Sierra coach Travis Thomson said. “We respect his arm and his playing career is bigger than today. He is playing college next year.”
Frisk exited the game with two outs in the seventh inning and was replaced by Santi Duarte who induced a comebacker on his first and only pitch to end the game.
“Santi has a really, really strong ability to pound the zone,” Thomson said. “He has a lot of run in his ball so that is about what happens. He gets early strikes and they just hit the ball right into the ground.”
Frisk limited the Indians (0-8 VOL, 2-9 overall) to five hits and reached base four times, getting hit by three pitches and scoring a run. He was hit five times total in the two-game set.
“I was feeling comfortable in the box and I was not going to move away,” Frisk said. “They kept throwing inside I just stayed my ground.
“I just wanted to pound the zone but in the sixth inning after we had a long top half of the inning it took me a while to find it again and I had too many pitches in that inning.”
Zion Bell went 3 for 5 with three RBI, two runs and a stolen base for the Timberwolves (5-3).
“It’s about staying calm in the batter’s box,” Bell said. “That and putting the bat on the ball, making contact and taking advantage of my speed to beat out the ground balls.”
Sierra’s Caleb Perales was 3 for 4 with two RBI, a double and a run. Other contributors to the Timberwolves attack were Brendan Rapisura (2 for 3, triple, two runs), Jordan Ordaz (2 for 4, two runs) and Zach Fonseca (triple, RBI, two runs).
Right fielder Perales covered an overthrow on a pickoff attempt on Nate Dorn at first with two outs in the second inning. Dorn tried to get all the way to third but Perales cut him down to end the frame.
“This was really an all-around win for us,” Thomson said. “Whether it was pitching, quality at-bats, or making plays, we kind of put it all together. I am happy with our balanced approach at the plate, hitting the ball on time and with the barrel so we were able to move a lot of runners. That all comes down to being balanced at the plate.”
Neal Martinez (triple, two runs) tripled in the first inning for Ripon and scored on a double by Devon Bacon (3 for 3, RBI, two doubles). But the Indians committed four costly errors which helped fuel the Timberwolves offensive onslaught.
“We came out, started swinging the bats early and got some runs,” Ripon coach Bobby Swedberg said. “We have to limit the errors. We are giving them extra outs and it is hard for our pitchers to continue to get outs when you are giving them one to two extra outs an inning.
“We have to clean it up and play a little bit better defense. We are young and we are going to keep working.”
Junior varsity
Sierra 8, Ripon 5
The Timberwolves took advantage of nine walks and scored in all but two innings.
Jack Cunial (triple) and Tyler Looney (double) were each 2 for 3 with a run for Sierra. Bryson Diego was 2 for 4 with two runs.
