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Third Place Showing For Varsity Boys In Tournament
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Winning their first game in the Orestimba Easter Tournament, the varsity Cougar boys split the next two and finished third in the annual baseball spring break event.

They topped Waterford in the opening round game on Saturday, April 10, winning 8-1.

"Waterford got one run in the sixth inning and was held to just three hits on the afternoon.

"We did good, we got one run in the third, one in the fifth, five in the sixth and one in the seventh," said Escalon coach Bob Loureiro.

Peter Krumeich, who got the win, pitched five strong innings, allowing no runs on just one hit. He struck out seven and walked one, facing 18 batters.

Grant Goedhart relieved him over the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out two and faced eight batters.

Escalon rapped out 14 hits on the day, getting the offense in gear early.

"In the third inning, Jesse Miguel singled and stole second, he scored on K.J. Vandagriff's RBI single," explained Loureiro. "In the fifth inning, with one out, Miguel walked and stole second, he scored on another RBI single by Vandagriff."

The sixth inning saw the Cougars break it open, taking advantage of two walks, a Waterford error and singles from Miguel and Brian Beeman, and a double by Anthony Suniga to push five runs across the plate.

They added some insurance in the seventh. With two outs, Nick Brown doubled and Beeman singled to drive him home.

For the game, Miguel was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, Vandagriff was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Krumeich was 2-for-3 and Suniga was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases.

"Monday against Central Catholic, we fell apart early," Loureiro admitted. "We made six errors in the game and we had only one run, a sixth inning homer by Krumeich."

The varsity boys had just three hits in the game, along with the six errors. Central Catholic took an 8-1 decision, rapping out 11 hits and committing just one error.

"Zachary Swass started and went five innings, we didn't play good defense behind him but they also hit him pretty good," explained Loureiro.

Swass gave up five runs, only two of them earned, allowing nine hits and walking two.

Goedhart pitched two innings of relief and gave up three runs on two hits, both for extra bases, while walking one.

"Then we came back with a 12-2 win over Orestimba for third place," Loureiro said of the game on Tuesday to close out the tournament.

They jumped out on top of the host team with five runs in the first and never looked back.

"Miguel led it off with a double, Ross Brayton walked, Miguel stole third and came home on an error," Loureiro said.

Walks to Nate Williamson and Derik Placido, along with a single from Brian Lynn and a double from Suniga, accounted for the rest of the first-inning run.

Escalon added another run in the second, Miguel walked, Krumeich doubled him home.

Orestimba scratched back for two runs in the fourth but Escalon quickly answered, scoring six in their half of the inning.

Big hits were a two-RBI single by Williamson, an RBI double by Placido, a two-RBI double from Brayton and an RBI single from Miguel.

"Mike Johansen started and went three innings, he was the winning pitcher," noted Loureiro. "He gave up three hits, struck out one and hit one batter."

Kyle Johnson got the call for relief, pitching two innings, giving up two runs on one hit. He walked one and hit a batter.

Miguel was 2-for-2 with three runs scored on the day, Krumeich was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Lynn went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, Suniga was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

"We came home with third place," Loureiro said. "We could have done better but we're pretty satisfied."

The varsity team will host Hughson in Trans-Valley League action on Thursday, April 22 at 4 p.m.

By MARG JACKSON