WESTON RANCH – Contrary to what the score depicts, the Sierra Timberwolves found themselves interlocked in a Valley Oak League battle with Weston Ranch High for four innings, but disaster struck over the final three frames in an 18-1 Sierra victory Tuesday.
The two squads sat scoreless after three innings until Weston Ranch put together a nice rally culminating with a two-out run scored by JR Williams on an infield single by Tyler Scharnow in the bottom of the fourth.
Sierra would respond in a big way, pushing across a five spot in the top of the fifth and shifting momentum back into the blue dugout.
“They gave us all we could handle in those first five,” Sierra head coach Jack Thomson said. “It was a real good game for five innings and then I think their pitcher got tired and the wheels just sort of came off the wagon.
“They played well, it just kind of got out of hand at the end.”
The Timberwolves would eliminate any Cougar plans for a comeback, posting double-digit runs in their half of the seventh inning, scoring eight runs before the Cougars would get their second out. Weston Ranch played with poise for the first 12 outs, but succumbed to the pressure during the late innings.
“We went up 1-0 in the fourth inning and then we came out in the fifth and kicked around a couple of baseballs,” Weston Ranch head coach Dave Smith said. “We just exhaled, and that’s when all the bad things started happening. Baseball is about playing the baseball and taking it one pitch at a time.
“We got caught up in what they were doing and the next thing you know, we’re down by a lot.”
The Cougars could do nothing to slow the Timberwolves once the floodgates were open. Sierra tallied 13 runs in the seventh, inheriting a large portion on four Weston Ranch defensive errors and five free passes. Bryce Willis made the most of his late-game plate appearances; drawing a walk in his first at bat and smashing a 2-run double in his second at bat – in the seventh.
Sierra starter Dylan DeBrouwer and Cougar hurler Steven Singh were both impressive through the game’s opening stages. Holding both offenses in check, but DeBrouwer reaped the benefits of inspired defensive play to cruise to the league-opening win.
“Our defense is really stepping it up and we plan on continuing to play good in league,” Debrouwer said. “Once we can get our bats going, we are going to be a hard team to beat. I just want to come out and play hard; hopefully giving our team the best chance to win.”
Sierra’s Kenny Leasure went 1 for 2 with a pair of walks in the win, while both John Waggy and DeBrouwer both added a hit. DeBrouwer also added two walks, and Waggy scored a run.
Weston Ranch got hits from Joseph, Scharnow, Williams and Singh, with Williams adding a walk and scoring the Cougars’ only run.
The two teams will meet up Thursday for their final meeting on the league schedule, giving the Cougars another chance at completing a task they seemed destined to conquer for four innings.
“They all know that the past history is going to have nothing to do with what goes on Thursday,” Thomson said. “So we know we better be ready to play, or we might find ourselves disappointed.”
Lathrop starter Oscar Calix went 2.2 innings, finishing with seven strikeouts and surrendering one earned run. Kevin Howard went 1 for 3 at the dish, smashing a double and scoring a run. Howards’ double was the only Lathrop hit of the game.
“We started off pretty good and all of a sudden their starter (Tyler Cummings) started to get into a groove,” Lathrop head coach Randy Baltazar said. “We weren’t selective in the box offensively and couldn’t string together any hits.”
Lathrop will try and make some changes Thursday when the two squads meet again in Lathrop.
The two squads sat scoreless after three innings until Weston Ranch put together a nice rally culminating with a two-out run scored by JR Williams on an infield single by Tyler Scharnow in the bottom of the fourth.
Sierra would respond in a big way, pushing across a five spot in the top of the fifth and shifting momentum back into the blue dugout.
“They gave us all we could handle in those first five,” Sierra head coach Jack Thomson said. “It was a real good game for five innings and then I think their pitcher got tired and the wheels just sort of came off the wagon.
“They played well, it just kind of got out of hand at the end.”
The Timberwolves would eliminate any Cougar plans for a comeback, posting double-digit runs in their half of the seventh inning, scoring eight runs before the Cougars would get their second out. Weston Ranch played with poise for the first 12 outs, but succumbed to the pressure during the late innings.
“We went up 1-0 in the fourth inning and then we came out in the fifth and kicked around a couple of baseballs,” Weston Ranch head coach Dave Smith said. “We just exhaled, and that’s when all the bad things started happening. Baseball is about playing the baseball and taking it one pitch at a time.
“We got caught up in what they were doing and the next thing you know, we’re down by a lot.”
The Cougars could do nothing to slow the Timberwolves once the floodgates were open. Sierra tallied 13 runs in the seventh, inheriting a large portion on four Weston Ranch defensive errors and five free passes. Bryce Willis made the most of his late-game plate appearances; drawing a walk in his first at bat and smashing a 2-run double in his second at bat – in the seventh.
Sierra starter Dylan DeBrouwer and Cougar hurler Steven Singh were both impressive through the game’s opening stages. Holding both offenses in check, but DeBrouwer reaped the benefits of inspired defensive play to cruise to the league-opening win.
“Our defense is really stepping it up and we plan on continuing to play good in league,” Debrouwer said. “Once we can get our bats going, we are going to be a hard team to beat. I just want to come out and play hard; hopefully giving our team the best chance to win.”
Sierra’s Kenny Leasure went 1 for 2 with a pair of walks in the win, while both John Waggy and DeBrouwer both added a hit. DeBrouwer also added two walks, and Waggy scored a run.
Weston Ranch got hits from Joseph, Scharnow, Williams and Singh, with Williams adding a walk and scoring the Cougars’ only run.
The two teams will meet up Thursday for their final meeting on the league schedule, giving the Cougars another chance at completing a task they seemed destined to conquer for four innings.
“They all know that the past history is going to have nothing to do with what goes on Thursday,” Thomson said. “So we know we better be ready to play, or we might find ourselves disappointed.”
Ceres 20, Lathrop 1
CERES – The Spartans were able to battle for a few innings, but then destruction hit and Ceres walked off in a route during their VOL action Tuesday.Lathrop starter Oscar Calix went 2.2 innings, finishing with seven strikeouts and surrendering one earned run. Kevin Howard went 1 for 3 at the dish, smashing a double and scoring a run. Howards’ double was the only Lathrop hit of the game.
“We started off pretty good and all of a sudden their starter (Tyler Cummings) started to get into a groove,” Lathrop head coach Randy Baltazar said. “We weren’t selective in the box offensively and couldn’t string together any hits.”
Lathrop will try and make some changes Thursday when the two squads meet again in Lathrop.
