
High Wheelers Rally Past Ballers with 8-4 Win
Davis, Ca.---The Yolo High Wheelers (13-11) bounced back into the win column as they erased an early three-run deficit to defeat the Oakland Ballers (15-12) on Thursday afternoon at Dobbins Stadium 8-4.
Oakland hopped on the board in the second inning on a homer by shortstop Brad Burckel (7) and then in the third he contributed with a two-run single making it 3-0.
The High Wheelers got busy scoring three times in the fourth which tied it. Shortstop Braylin Marine opened the inning with an infield single extending his hitting streak to a team-high 11 games. He stole second and then moved to third on a throwing error by Oakland catcher Tyler Lozano. Marine would score two batters later on a single by designated hitter Jose Gonzalez which made it 3-1. Several batters later right fielder Tanner Smith tied it on a two-run double.
Yolo took the lead for good in the fourth plating four. Second baseman Bobby Lada untied the game on a two-run single making it 5-3. Two batters later first baseman Alejandro Figueredo (4) belted a two-run opposite field homer to right, raising the advantage to 7-3. It was his first Yolo homer after hitting three with Billings this season.
"Figueredo has great raw power to all fields and showed it tonight. Those were two huge hits for us," said manager Billy Horton
The final Yolo run came in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Justin Kirby.
Ben Ferrer (2-1) pitched a shutout fifth inning en route to the win. Right-hander Brandon McPherson worked four-plus innings in the start for the High Wheelers. He issued seven hits, three runs (all earned), stuck out two, and walked six--most by a Yolo pitcher this year. It was his third straight no-decision.
Left-hander Reed Butz in a spot start for Oakland allowed three runs (all earned) in four innings and had four strikeouts. Abraham DeLeon (0-2) was the losing pitcher giving up the four runs in the fifth.
Yolo leads the series 2-1. These teams meet again on Friday afternoon at 4:30 in Davis. Right-hander Jacob Reardon (0-0) will make his first professional start for Oakland. Shaun Gamelin (0-1) is the scheduled pitcher for Yolo.
HIGH TALES
Kirby has scored at least one run in his last eight games
Marine during his hitting streak is 25-52 (.481) over the 11 games
Relievers Jack Zalasky, Connor Langrell, and Ty Buckner all saw action for the first time in the series. They combined for four innings, one run, and three strikeouts