Three games in four days kept Escalon's varsity baseball boys busy, but happy, as they swept their opponents away, at home and on the road.
The squad was at home Tuesday, March 15 against Amador and took a 20-0 win in five innings.
"We got five runs in the first, 11 in the second," said coach Greg Largent. "We sent 16 batters to the plate in the second inning, our first through nine hitters all scored."
Key hits in the game included a bases loaded double by Scott Sand that drove in three runs, while the Cougars pounded out a total of 18 hits. They had no errors.
Two more runs came in for Escalon in the third, two in the fourth and the game was called after five due to the 10-run rule.
"We gave up only three hits and they had five errors," noted Largent. "Grant Goedhart went three innings, he was the winning pitcher, Geoff Smith came on and pitched the final two innings."
Heading out on the road Wednesday, the Cougars went to Calaveras and fell behind early, allowing two runs in the bottom of the first.
"We scrapped away, climbed back and ended with a 9-2 victory," Largent said. "Pete Krumeich went four innings, he was the winning pitcher and he also helped himself, he was 3-for-4 with a homer and a double."
Joey Pinasco pitched the final three innings and earned the save. Escalon was able to take advantage of some miscues by host Calaveras to take the lead, then held them in check the rest of the way.
"With the score tied 2-2 in the fifth inning, we scored three runs without hitting the ball," explained Largent. "It was a combination of errors and walks."
Krumeich added the seventh inning home run for some insurance and the Cougars went away with the win.
"Friday, we picked up a game with Waterford," Largent said, noting that both teams had an opening and agreed to meet. "That's a very good team but it was an 8-5 win for us."
Escalon scored one run in the first, then Waterford jumped on them to score three in the bottom of the frame. The Cougars cut it to 3-2 in the second, Brian Beeman doubled with one out and Steve Largent drove him in with an RBI single.
"That made it 3-2 and it stayed that way until the third inning, when we picked up two more," Largent said. "Phil Parrish reached on an error, Ross Brayton singled, Beeman then had a two-run single."
Two more runs in the sixth inning gave the Cougars a 6-3 lead, Largent reached on a single, Lundell Berdion put down the sacrifice bunt.
"I put Travis Hooks in as a pinch runner for Steve and then Jordan Ramirez lined one to right field and made me look like a genius, Travis came in to score," said Largent.
Parrish followed with a triple, though Ramirez had been erased on a caught stealing, but Anthony Suniga picked up an RBI with a single, driving home Parrish.
"In the bottom of the sixth, Waterford picked up two runs on an error so that made it 6-5," Largent said of the battle. "We scored two insurance runs in the seventh and held them off."
Colin Riggs reached on an error, Pinasco advanced him with a sacrifice bunt, Largent singled to drive in Riggs. Berdion got on with a single, Justin Chandley doubled to drive in Berdion.
Parrish went four innings on the mound to pick up the win, Pinasco pitched three innings for the save.
Escalon rapped out 13 hits on the day, with several players having multi-hit games. They included Brayton, 3-for-3; Parrish, 2-for-4; Beeman, 2-for-3 with two RBI; Largent, 3-for-4 with two RBI.
The boys are slated to start action in the Trans-Valley League this week, though early week games were at risk for postponement due to the weather. The Cougars will be at Livingston for a Friday, March 25 league game and then play at the Orestimba Tournament in Newman on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, March 26, 28 and 29.
By MARG JACKSON
The squad was at home Tuesday, March 15 against Amador and took a 20-0 win in five innings.
"We got five runs in the first, 11 in the second," said coach Greg Largent. "We sent 16 batters to the plate in the second inning, our first through nine hitters all scored."
Key hits in the game included a bases loaded double by Scott Sand that drove in three runs, while the Cougars pounded out a total of 18 hits. They had no errors.
Two more runs came in for Escalon in the third, two in the fourth and the game was called after five due to the 10-run rule.
"We gave up only three hits and they had five errors," noted Largent. "Grant Goedhart went three innings, he was the winning pitcher, Geoff Smith came on and pitched the final two innings."
Heading out on the road Wednesday, the Cougars went to Calaveras and fell behind early, allowing two runs in the bottom of the first.
"We scrapped away, climbed back and ended with a 9-2 victory," Largent said. "Pete Krumeich went four innings, he was the winning pitcher and he also helped himself, he was 3-for-4 with a homer and a double."
Joey Pinasco pitched the final three innings and earned the save. Escalon was able to take advantage of some miscues by host Calaveras to take the lead, then held them in check the rest of the way.
"With the score tied 2-2 in the fifth inning, we scored three runs without hitting the ball," explained Largent. "It was a combination of errors and walks."
Krumeich added the seventh inning home run for some insurance and the Cougars went away with the win.
"Friday, we picked up a game with Waterford," Largent said, noting that both teams had an opening and agreed to meet. "That's a very good team but it was an 8-5 win for us."
Escalon scored one run in the first, then Waterford jumped on them to score three in the bottom of the frame. The Cougars cut it to 3-2 in the second, Brian Beeman doubled with one out and Steve Largent drove him in with an RBI single.
"That made it 3-2 and it stayed that way until the third inning, when we picked up two more," Largent said. "Phil Parrish reached on an error, Ross Brayton singled, Beeman then had a two-run single."
Two more runs in the sixth inning gave the Cougars a 6-3 lead, Largent reached on a single, Lundell Berdion put down the sacrifice bunt.
"I put Travis Hooks in as a pinch runner for Steve and then Jordan Ramirez lined one to right field and made me look like a genius, Travis came in to score," said Largent.
Parrish followed with a triple, though Ramirez had been erased on a caught stealing, but Anthony Suniga picked up an RBI with a single, driving home Parrish.
"In the bottom of the sixth, Waterford picked up two runs on an error so that made it 6-5," Largent said of the battle. "We scored two insurance runs in the seventh and held them off."
Colin Riggs reached on an error, Pinasco advanced him with a sacrifice bunt, Largent singled to drive in Riggs. Berdion got on with a single, Justin Chandley doubled to drive in Berdion.
Parrish went four innings on the mound to pick up the win, Pinasco pitched three innings for the save.
Escalon rapped out 13 hits on the day, with several players having multi-hit games. They included Brayton, 3-for-3; Parrish, 2-for-4; Beeman, 2-for-3 with two RBI; Largent, 3-for-4 with two RBI.
The boys are slated to start action in the Trans-Valley League this week, though early week games were at risk for postponement due to the weather. The Cougars will be at Livingston for a Friday, March 25 league game and then play at the Orestimba Tournament in Newman on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, March 26, 28 and 29.
By MARG JACKSON
