Two wins for Escalon's varsity baseball team went on the books this week.
The boys were on the road for both contests, playing at Riverbank on Wednesday and at Hughson on Friday.
At Riverbank, the Cougars were 9-0 winners, scoring two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and five in the sixth.
"We struck in the fourth inning," said coach Greg Largent. "Jared August got on with a leadoff single, Peter Krumeich walked and Ross Brayton got on with a bunt single to load the bases."
Anthony Suniga then came up with a two-run double to get the Cougars on the board.
In the fifth inning, Escalon scored with two outs. Krumeich doubled, Brayton drove him in with a single, Suniga then tripled to drive in Brayton.
The visitors added plenty of insurance in the sixth inning, with Scott Sand and Justin Chandley each getting on with singles. A wild pitch advanced them to second and third, Brian Beeman drove in Sand with a sacrifice fly.
"Travis Hooks came in as a pinch hitter and drove in a run with a single," explained Largent. "Jared August was hit by a pitch and then Pete hit a fly ball to left field that was dropped, Geoff Smith had gone in as a pinch runner and he scored."
Suniga came through yet again for Escalon, driving in two runs with a single to cap the scoring.
"Pete Krumeich went the first six innings, he didn't have his best stuff but he was still dominant," explained Largent. "Joey Pinasco came in for the seventh and got a strikeout, ground out and fly out."
Krumeich struck out nine in his six innings of work, allowing just three hits.
Suniga had the hot bat, driving in five runs with a 3-for-4 afternoon. Brayton added a pair of RBIs and had three hits while scoring twice.
At Hughson on Friday, the varsity boys were 6-3 winners, jumping on the host Huskies early.
"We scored in the first inning, Beeman walked, then we got a quick two outs," said Largent. "Brian stole second, then Pete hit a double and drove him in, Ross followed with a single to drive in Pete."
But the Cougars gave up a leadoff homer to Hughson in the bottom of the first and the Huskies took advantage of an Escalon error in the second inning to tie the game.
In the third, Escalon regained the lead with four runs. Phil Parrish reached on an error and Largent put on the hit and run. Jared August promptly belted one over the right field wall for a two-run homer.
"He hit it pretty well, he gave it a ride," said Largent.
Krumeich was hit by a pitch, Brayton singled and they both moved up on a balk call. Steve Largent followed with a two-RBI single to give Escalon the 6-2 lead. Hughson scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh but the Cougars held them off, taking the win.
"We stranded a lot of runners," Largent said, adding that the six runs they did score turned out to be enough in this contest.
Grant Goedhart went the distance and got out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth with some help from his defense.
"There was a slap hit to Scott Sand and he made a nice play on it," Largent said. "It was also nice to get two wins on the road this week."
The Cougars are at 7-0 in Trans-Valley League play and have a 3-game lead in the standings.
"We're 15-3 overall and have won quite a few in a row," Largent said. "Ross had a great week for us, he had been struggling a bit but he was 6-for-7 this week."
The boys will be at home Wednesday, April 27 to take on Livingston and then travel for a Friday, April 29 game at Hilmar. They have a make-up game scheduled with Hughson, at home, on Monday, May 2. All games start at 4 p.m.
By MARG JACKSON
The boys were on the road for both contests, playing at Riverbank on Wednesday and at Hughson on Friday.
At Riverbank, the Cougars were 9-0 winners, scoring two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and five in the sixth.
"We struck in the fourth inning," said coach Greg Largent. "Jared August got on with a leadoff single, Peter Krumeich walked and Ross Brayton got on with a bunt single to load the bases."
Anthony Suniga then came up with a two-run double to get the Cougars on the board.
In the fifth inning, Escalon scored with two outs. Krumeich doubled, Brayton drove him in with a single, Suniga then tripled to drive in Brayton.
The visitors added plenty of insurance in the sixth inning, with Scott Sand and Justin Chandley each getting on with singles. A wild pitch advanced them to second and third, Brian Beeman drove in Sand with a sacrifice fly.
"Travis Hooks came in as a pinch hitter and drove in a run with a single," explained Largent. "Jared August was hit by a pitch and then Pete hit a fly ball to left field that was dropped, Geoff Smith had gone in as a pinch runner and he scored."
Suniga came through yet again for Escalon, driving in two runs with a single to cap the scoring.
"Pete Krumeich went the first six innings, he didn't have his best stuff but he was still dominant," explained Largent. "Joey Pinasco came in for the seventh and got a strikeout, ground out and fly out."
Krumeich struck out nine in his six innings of work, allowing just three hits.
Suniga had the hot bat, driving in five runs with a 3-for-4 afternoon. Brayton added a pair of RBIs and had three hits while scoring twice.
At Hughson on Friday, the varsity boys were 6-3 winners, jumping on the host Huskies early.
"We scored in the first inning, Beeman walked, then we got a quick two outs," said Largent. "Brian stole second, then Pete hit a double and drove him in, Ross followed with a single to drive in Pete."
But the Cougars gave up a leadoff homer to Hughson in the bottom of the first and the Huskies took advantage of an Escalon error in the second inning to tie the game.
In the third, Escalon regained the lead with four runs. Phil Parrish reached on an error and Largent put on the hit and run. Jared August promptly belted one over the right field wall for a two-run homer.
"He hit it pretty well, he gave it a ride," said Largent.
Krumeich was hit by a pitch, Brayton singled and they both moved up on a balk call. Steve Largent followed with a two-RBI single to give Escalon the 6-2 lead. Hughson scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh but the Cougars held them off, taking the win.
"We stranded a lot of runners," Largent said, adding that the six runs they did score turned out to be enough in this contest.
Grant Goedhart went the distance and got out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth with some help from his defense.
"There was a slap hit to Scott Sand and he made a nice play on it," Largent said. "It was also nice to get two wins on the road this week."
The Cougars are at 7-0 in Trans-Valley League play and have a 3-game lead in the standings.
"We're 15-3 overall and have won quite a few in a row," Largent said. "Ross had a great week for us, he had been struggling a bit but he was 6-for-7 this week."
The boys will be at home Wednesday, April 27 to take on Livingston and then travel for a Friday, April 29 game at Hilmar. They have a make-up game scheduled with Hughson, at home, on Monday, May 2. All games start at 4 p.m.
By MARG JACKSON
