The Sierra High varsity baseball team overcame a sluggish start by finishing strong in the 13-3 victory over visiting Modesto Christian on Wednesday.
The Timberwolves, in fact, enjoyed a six-run fourth, closing out the game with one out in the fifth thanks to the 10-run mercy rule.
“Good teams play good early on,” said Sierra coach Jack Thomson, who was concerned about his team’s shaky defense.
The Timberwolves yielded two runs to start the game, putting runners aboard on a pair of errors and a hit batsman.
They made up for those runs in bottom of the first, with leadoff batter Dylan DeBrouwer walking on four straight pitches and Caleb Young following with a double to right.
One batter later, Bret Wilson delivered a two-run single up the middle, tying the game at 2-2.
Sierra (3-1) made it 5-2 in the second on DeBrouwer’s three-run shot over the 305-foot mark down the leftfield line.
“I had a good feeling (it was a home run) when ball left the bat,” he said.
Debrouwer, who was 3 for 3 at the plate, was also the starting pitcher for Sierra. He had trouble placing his fastball early on but soon found a nice groove.
In the fourth, Debrouwer retired Modesto Christian in order on seven pitches. He gave way to Young, who also collected three hits.
Young sat down the Crusaders in order in the top of the fourth.
Modesto Christian (2-1) scratched out a run in the third, with Kaden Cline delivering a two-out RBI double.
Cline was also the Crusaders’ starting pitcher.
Nursing a 5-3 advantage, the Timberwolves rallied in the fourth led by former Crusader Nate O’Leary, who delivered the big blow.
After back-to-back hits by DeBrouwer and Young, O’Leary ripped a two-run triple to center. He scored on Wilson’s RBI single.
Wilson came home on Alex Arreola’s run-scoring double. Two batters later, Rodrigo Contreras plated Arreola on an RBI double to left. He scored on Jason Angelo’s RBI single.
Ahead 11-3, Sierra ended the game by scoring twice in the home half of the fifth inning.
Both runs were unearned.
Modesto Christian managed four hits led by Cline, who was 2 for 2 at the plate.
The Timberwolves collected 15 hits.
“I wish we’d played seven (innings),” Thomson said. “I really wanted to get some of my other players into the game.”
The Timberwolves, in fact, enjoyed a six-run fourth, closing out the game with one out in the fifth thanks to the 10-run mercy rule.
“Good teams play good early on,” said Sierra coach Jack Thomson, who was concerned about his team’s shaky defense.
The Timberwolves yielded two runs to start the game, putting runners aboard on a pair of errors and a hit batsman.
They made up for those runs in bottom of the first, with leadoff batter Dylan DeBrouwer walking on four straight pitches and Caleb Young following with a double to right.
One batter later, Bret Wilson delivered a two-run single up the middle, tying the game at 2-2.
Sierra (3-1) made it 5-2 in the second on DeBrouwer’s three-run shot over the 305-foot mark down the leftfield line.
“I had a good feeling (it was a home run) when ball left the bat,” he said.
Debrouwer, who was 3 for 3 at the plate, was also the starting pitcher for Sierra. He had trouble placing his fastball early on but soon found a nice groove.
In the fourth, Debrouwer retired Modesto Christian in order on seven pitches. He gave way to Young, who also collected three hits.
Young sat down the Crusaders in order in the top of the fourth.
Modesto Christian (2-1) scratched out a run in the third, with Kaden Cline delivering a two-out RBI double.
Cline was also the Crusaders’ starting pitcher.
Nursing a 5-3 advantage, the Timberwolves rallied in the fourth led by former Crusader Nate O’Leary, who delivered the big blow.
After back-to-back hits by DeBrouwer and Young, O’Leary ripped a two-run triple to center. He scored on Wilson’s RBI single.
Wilson came home on Alex Arreola’s run-scoring double. Two batters later, Rodrigo Contreras plated Arreola on an RBI double to left. He scored on Jason Angelo’s RBI single.
Ahead 11-3, Sierra ended the game by scoring twice in the home half of the fifth inning.
Both runs were unearned.
Modesto Christian managed four hits led by Cline, who was 2 for 2 at the plate.
The Timberwolves collected 15 hits.
“I wish we’d played seven (innings),” Thomson said. “I really wanted to get some of my other players into the game.”
