Andy Scott settled into second base, visibly disappointed after his potential home-run shot bounced high off the wall in right center.
Two pitches later, clean-up hitter Jordan Louie, well, cleaned up.
His two-run clout to right in the sixth inning along with Scott’s 3-for-4 effort highlighted Sierra’s most productive day at the plate so far, as the Timberwolves clubbed visiting Modesto Christian 9-4 Monday.
“The bats finally livened up — we’ve been having trouble lately getting runs across,” said Scott, who legged out two doubles, a triple and three runs.
“In our first game (a 6-0 win over Livingston) we put up five right away and we haven’t done much after that. That’s kind of been the story of our year so far.”
Scott and the Timberwolves (2-2) are hoping Monday’s performance is a sign of things to come. Sierra rapped out nine total hits, of which seven went for extra bases.
Jacob Angelo went 2 for 3 from the leadoff spot with an RBI double during the four-run sixth. Luis Barraza added a run-scoring double in the fifth.
But what sparked Sierra was No. 8 hitter Bobby Mejorado’s two-run double in the second inning. Mejorado worked the count full, and after two foul balls he raked it right center.
After reaching third on a wild pitch, Mejorado was waved home on Joey Valencia’s sacrifice fly to short center field. That made it 4-1 Sierra, which didn’t give up the lead the rest of the way.
“Bobby came through big,” Scott said. “He had a great at-bat and did a good job of getting it back to the top of the order for us.”
Modesto Christian (3-2) has its own heavy hitters, and they were on full display Monday. Clean-up slugger Patrick White slugged the Crusaders ahead in the first with a run-scoring double. No. 3 hitter Evan Schwartz finished 2 for 2 with a run, double and two walks. Kevin Roya smacked in MC’s final run in the sixth with a double to left.
With ace pitcher Jordan Ribota out for the last week with an illness, Sierra’s hurlers filled in nicely Monday. Jordan Louie worked three innings, striking out five and giving up three hits, two walks and two runs (one earned).
Sophomore Scotty DeBrower proved he belongs on the varsity squad over the final four frames. He yielded two unearned runs in the sixth to allow MC to close in, 5-4. After walking White with the bases loaded, he got out of the threat with a pop up to Louie, then at catcher, behind the plate.
DeBrower went through the Crusaders’ final at-bats 1-2-3, finishing with three strikeouts to three walks and two hits.
“He threw strikes, and that’s all we can ask,” Sierra coach Jack Thomson said. “He gave us a chance to win the game, and it’s always nice to get that separation at the end of the game. That took a little pressure off of him in the last inning.”
Sierra will next head to Stockton to face Stagg for a make-up game Thursday before hosting West of Tracy Friday to end the preseason.
“We’re short-handed right now, so it’s nice to see some other guys get an opportunity and do something with it,” Thomson said. “Hopefully we can get more consistent and figure out where we’re at.”
Two pitches later, clean-up hitter Jordan Louie, well, cleaned up.
His two-run clout to right in the sixth inning along with Scott’s 3-for-4 effort highlighted Sierra’s most productive day at the plate so far, as the Timberwolves clubbed visiting Modesto Christian 9-4 Monday.
“The bats finally livened up — we’ve been having trouble lately getting runs across,” said Scott, who legged out two doubles, a triple and three runs.
“In our first game (a 6-0 win over Livingston) we put up five right away and we haven’t done much after that. That’s kind of been the story of our year so far.”
Scott and the Timberwolves (2-2) are hoping Monday’s performance is a sign of things to come. Sierra rapped out nine total hits, of which seven went for extra bases.
Jacob Angelo went 2 for 3 from the leadoff spot with an RBI double during the four-run sixth. Luis Barraza added a run-scoring double in the fifth.
But what sparked Sierra was No. 8 hitter Bobby Mejorado’s two-run double in the second inning. Mejorado worked the count full, and after two foul balls he raked it right center.
After reaching third on a wild pitch, Mejorado was waved home on Joey Valencia’s sacrifice fly to short center field. That made it 4-1 Sierra, which didn’t give up the lead the rest of the way.
“Bobby came through big,” Scott said. “He had a great at-bat and did a good job of getting it back to the top of the order for us.”
Modesto Christian (3-2) has its own heavy hitters, and they were on full display Monday. Clean-up slugger Patrick White slugged the Crusaders ahead in the first with a run-scoring double. No. 3 hitter Evan Schwartz finished 2 for 2 with a run, double and two walks. Kevin Roya smacked in MC’s final run in the sixth with a double to left.
With ace pitcher Jordan Ribota out for the last week with an illness, Sierra’s hurlers filled in nicely Monday. Jordan Louie worked three innings, striking out five and giving up three hits, two walks and two runs (one earned).
Sophomore Scotty DeBrower proved he belongs on the varsity squad over the final four frames. He yielded two unearned runs in the sixth to allow MC to close in, 5-4. After walking White with the bases loaded, he got out of the threat with a pop up to Louie, then at catcher, behind the plate.
DeBrower went through the Crusaders’ final at-bats 1-2-3, finishing with three strikeouts to three walks and two hits.
“He threw strikes, and that’s all we can ask,” Sierra coach Jack Thomson said. “He gave us a chance to win the game, and it’s always nice to get that separation at the end of the game. That took a little pressure off of him in the last inning.”
Sierra will next head to Stockton to face Stagg for a make-up game Thursday before hosting West of Tracy Friday to end the preseason.
“We’re short-handed right now, so it’s nice to see some other guys get an opportunity and do something with it,” Thomson said. “Hopefully we can get more consistent and figure out where we’re at.”
