Games Streamed to YouTube LIVE

Grand Junction Jackalopes (2-7) vs High Wheelers (4-3) June 1

The Yolo High Wheelers resume their series against the Grand Junction Jackalopes with Game 05 on June 1st. Fans who are unable to make it to this weekends games can still catch all the action via YouTube Live Audio, featuring commentary by the established expert, Doug Greenwald.

Watch the Livestream here

Pitching Matchup:
Grand Junction---RHP---Elijah Johnson (0-1, 12.00) vs. Yolo—RHP---JC Ariza (0-1, 9.00)
Series Probables:
Grand Junction—RHP—Josh Verdon (0-0, 19.50) vs. Yolo—LHP—Brandon Mitchell (0-1, 12.00)

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER-21-RHP—JC ARIZA (0-1, 9.00)

-makes second start/appearance of this season; suffered loss in last start (line below)
-allowed a pair of two-run homers in second which was the difference
-six strikeouts are tied for most in a game on High Wheelers along with Brandon McPherson
-pitched one game last season for Rocky Mountain (0-0, 45.00)
-alum of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, 3-9 over three seasons for Vaqueros (121 K's, 2/1 K/BB ratio)
-grew up in Belleville, New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Prep

GAME LOG
DATE OPPONENT IP H R ER BB K DEC SCORE
5/26 (G2) Rocky Mountain 4 3 4 4 1 6 L 5-7

HIGH WHEELERS POSITION PLAYERS
2 KIRKLAND BANKS Last Game: 0-4; RBI Hitting Streak: No Games (hitless in last 7 AB's)
-Lamar University alum, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana; loves eating alligator
-five-game hit streak came to an end Wednesday (5-20, .250)
-first professional season, with Frederick (MLB Draft League) last year, (.387, 7, 29, 6 SB)
-was multi-offensive threat in five seasons of football at Lamar, primarily played wide receiver
-graduate of Barbe High School; helped lead the Buccaneers to three state titles in baseball

4 BRAYLIN MARINE Last Game: 0-3; 2 BB; R Hitting Streak: No Games
-six hits (all singles) in the first two games of this series (6-11, .545); four hits on Tuesday
-has reached base safely nine times over his three games in this series (three walks/six singles)
-first professional season, hails from Freeport, New York (Long Island)
-last season at Mahoning Valley (MLB Draft League) (.318, 0, 17, 13 SB)
-five seasons at NCAA—Division II-- Newberry (SC) College
-all-time SB leader with 100 -Wolves won two South Atlantic Conference Championships during his time

5 BRAYLAND SKINNER Last Game: 0-1 Hitting Streak: No Games
-Memphis area native (Southaven, Mississippi) enters first year of professional baseball
-five-game season opening hitting streak ended Wednesday, had nine hits in 19 AB's (.474)
-played two seasons at Mississippi State and one year at University of Memphis
-member of the 2021 NCAA College World Series Champion Mississippi State Bulldogs
-finished second steals in the American Athletic Conference for Memphis last year with 22
-last season was in the MLB Draft League with Williamsport (.333, 1, 19, 12 SB)

7 BRAEDON BLACKFORD Last Game: DNP Hitting Streak: One Game (1-3)
-picked up the first hit in Yolo history with a first inning single on May 21
-first pro season, played two years at Purdue Fort Wayne (NCAA-D-I, Horizon League)
-All-Horizon League First Team senior year at PFW, had 14 homers; prior to PFW played at Illinois State
-spent 2023 with State College (MLB Draft League), in 46 games, .270, 5, 34, 3 SB

9 MASON MINZEY Last Game: 1-3; 2B; BB Hitting Streak: One Game (1-3)
-three hits (all singles) in season opener on May 21 for the Flint, Michigan area product
-three seasons of college ball was at Ohio University after beginning varsity career at Texas Tech
-first pro season after playing 32 games last year w/Williamsport (MLB Draft League) (.268, 0, 6)

11 BOBBY LADA (LUH-DAY) Last Game: 2-5; 2B; R; 2 RBI's Hitting Streak: Two Games (3-7)
-ten of his 12 RBI's have come in this series with seven hits in 14 AB's
-had four hits (triple shy of the cycle) in first game of this series on 5/28 along with six RBI's
-eighth inning Grand Slam on 5/28 was first homer in Yolo history & his pro career
-first professional season, was with West Virginia in 2023 (MLB Draft League), .336, 3, 29, 21 SB
-two seasons for the University of Louisiana, and finished college career at NAIA William Carey
-originally is from Richmond, Texas (Houston area); primary position is shortstop

14 JUSTIN KIRBY Last Game: 0-3 Hitting Streak: No Games
-outfielder signed on May 28th for his first professional contract; two hits on Tuesday in pro debut
-went to spring training with Fargo (American Association) and Missoula (Pioneer League)
-played four seasons at Kent State University (Kent, Ohio) & last year at Auburn
-amassed 29 homers with Kent State and eight at Auburn; originally from Alpharetta, Georgia
-was Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year at Kent State in 2019 (.313, 9, 30)

18 SAM KUCHINSKI Last Game: 1-5; R; 2 RBI's Hitting Streak: One Game (1-5)
-has reached base safely all seven games
-four-game season-opening hitting streak snapped Wed., was 8-14, .571 over stretch
-first season as a pro after playing two years at University of Montevallo (Alabama); NCAA D-II
-at Montevallo--34 HR's, 130 RBI's, GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE PLAYER OF YEAR both seasons
-can play the infield and serve as team's third catcher; originally from Powder Springs, Georgia

23 JOSE GONZALEZ Last Game: 1-4; BB; R Hitting Streak: Four Games (7-14)
-has a three-hit & three-RBI game in this series, seven hits in 14 AB's in four games of set
-string of reaching base safely seven times consecutively snapped yesterday with groundout in third
-first year pro who is primarily a corner outfielder but can also play first base
-made pro debut in game one on 5/26 and picked up first pro hit—fourth inning single
-alum of Texas State University (San Marcos, Texas); 2022 All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
-amassed 33 homers in his Bobcats career with a .290 average
-played in the 2022 NCAA Division I Baseball Team; Stanford All-Region Team (homered in set)
-prior to Texas State played at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas
-originally from Spring, Texas (near Houston) and is an alum of Klein High Schoo

31 TANNER SMITH Last Game: 1-4; R Hitting Streak: One Game (1-4)
-second professional season; spent last year with Tri-City (Frontier League) .289, 3, 23
-snapped an 0-15 to start season with eighth inning RBI single in first game of this series on 5/28
-five-year career at the University of Oregon
-ALL-TIME Oregon leader in homers with 31, RBI's with 58, games started 246, doubles with 69
-Honorable Mention, All Pac-12 Conference in 2023 (.327, 11, 45)
-four-year letter winner at Servite High School in Anaheim
-grew up a Los Angeles Dodgers fan in Newport Beach

35 ANGEL MENDOZA Last Game: caught 8th & 9th innings Hitting Streak: Two Games (2-6)
-first pro season, last year was with Trenton (MLB Draft League), .185, 0, 8
-scored first run in franchise history on May 21
-Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year in lone season (2023) at Union College (KY)
-established single season school record with 25 homers, and 27 hit by pitches (.404, 25, 53)
-was third in the league in batting average at .404
-won the Gold Glove as catcher for the conference; helped lead Bulldogs to the NAIA Playoffs
-originally from Corona, California, played one year of NCAA Division I baseball at CSUN

37 KYLE GUERRA Last Game: 2-3; R; BB; 2 SB Hitting Streak: One Game (2-3)
-begins his second professional season; signed by the High Wheelers out of a tryout camp
-played last season in Pecos League with the San Rafael Pacifics (42 games, .365, 4, 44, 32 SB)
-at Cal State Monterey Bay (NCAA-Division II); played four seasons with Otters (.296 lifetime)
-alum of San Leandro High School in the Bay Area; fan of San Francisco Giants

HIGH WHEELERS BULLPEN (TOTALS THIS SERIES): (17 IP, 16 K)
10 NOAH ESTRELLA Last Appearance: 5/31 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K, HR, BS, L)
-losing pitcher/blown save yesterday after allowing two-run homer in the top of the eighth
-made pro debut Wednesday pitching a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout
-makes first appearance on a professional roster after last two seasons at New Mexico State
-last two seasons with Pulaski in the Appalachian League (MLB Draft), combined 2-1 in 15 games
-at NMSU in 39 games was overall 5-3; pitched one game in 2022 NCAA Tournament for Aggies
-father Erick was his high school coach at Flowing Hills in Tucson

15 BEN FERRER Last Appearance: 5/29 vs. Grand Junction (2 IP, 2 H, 4 K, W)
-earned his first pro win on 5/29 with two shutout frames (fifth and sixth innings)
-suffered loss in game one of DH on 5/26 vs. Rocky Mountain allowing five runs over two innings (plus) in relief
-returns to the Pioneer League for his second season, was with Glacier last year (1-1, 14 games)
-played three seasons at South Carolina Upstate (Spartanburg, SC; NCAA D-I)
-finished college career with two seasons at Oregon State ; overall college totals; 14-5, 3.43; originally from Alpharetta, Georgia

17 JACK ZALASKY Last Appearance: 5/31 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP)
-earned his first pro win on 5/31 vs. GJ; recorded final in opener (5/21) & picked up first save in team history
-Yolo is first pro team; last year at Mahoning Valley (MLB Draft League) 1-0, 7.88, 12 games
-in five seasons at Sacramento State was 16-9, 3.23 with 26 saves
-led Western Athletic Conference in saves in 2023 with 11
-father Pat pitched at Sacramento State and brother Alex hurled at Concordia University in Irvine
-grandfather -played football at Sac State; native of Sacramento went to Elk Grove High School

25 TY BUCKNER Last Appearance: 5/30 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP, BB, K, SV)
-finished two-of-first-three games of this series (2 IP, 0 R, 2 K); notched first pro save on Thursday
-spent three years pitching for Missouri State and one with Gonzaga (college career 8-9, 5.32)
-pitched in the NCAA Tournament with Missouri State in 2018
-first year pro with State College last year (MLB Draft) was 1-2 in 26 games with six saves, 1.74
-originally from St. Louis; missed two years in college with Achillies injury & Tommy John Surgery

27 CAL McANINCH (Mick-AN-itch) Last Appearance: 5/31 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP, 3 H)
-made Yolo debut first game of this series with 2/3 of shutout relief, followed that with SHO inning yesterday
-second year pro but is in first Pioneer League season
-made pro debut in 2023 with one game for the Winnipeg Goldeyes (American Association)
-pitched bulk of last season with Lake Erie (Frontier League) 0-0, 5.96, all 23 games in relief
-played his last three college years at the University of Toledo (12-6 lifetime with Rockets)
-sidearmer is originally from Columbus, Ohio—Bishop Watterson High School

32 KRIS ANGLIN Last Appearance: 5/31 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, K, WP)
-worked in three straight games from (5/26 (G2)—5/29) (4 ER over 4 IP with 4 K)
-lone High Wheeler with affiliated experience (Atlanta and Detroit systems)
-reached as high as Low-A in each organization; has an overall 4-8 professional record
-Bakersfield native who attended Frontier High School

34 CONNOR LANGRELL Last Appearance: 5/29 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP, K)
-notched first pro save with a perfect ninth inning Wednesday; appeared in first two games of this set
-first year pro, last season with Williamsport (MLB Draft) (0-0, 2.52, 23 games (all relief)
-played three seasons at Newman University in Wichita (NCAA-Division II)
-spent last college year (2023) as graduate player at Bradley University (2-1, 11 saves)
-originally from Riverview, Florida (Tampa area)

47 JACOB STOBART Last Appearance: 5/30 vs. Grand Junction (2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K)
-earned first win in team history pitching innings six & seven in resumption of game from May 21st
-second year in Pioneer League, played for manager Billy Horton last year with Billings (2-1, 2.38, six games)
-pitched much of last year with Aigles de Trois-Rivieres in Frontier League (0-0, 6.26, 22 games)
-attended Stephen F. Austin University; six wins in three seasons with Lumberjacks; originally from Phoenix

TEAM GAME HIGHS
Runs: 19 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Runs Allowed 10 5/26 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One)
Hits: 21 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Errors: 3 5/21 vs. Rocky Mountain
Runs in inning: 9 5/28 vs. Grand Junction (Eighth Inning)

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Hits: 4 Bobby Lada & Braylin Marine 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
RBI's 6 Bobby Lada 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Walks: 3 Tanner Smith & Angel Mendoza 5/28 vs. GJ & 5/26 vs. RM (G2)
Runs 4 Braylin Marine 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Reaching Base Safely 5X Brayline Marine & Sam Kuchinski 5/28 vs. Grand Junction

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Innings: 6 Brandon McPherson 5/30 vs. Grand Junction
Hits: 7 Cameron Repetti 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Strikeouts: 6 JC Ariza & McPherson 5/26 vs. Rocky Mountain (G2) & 5/30 vs. Grand Junction
Walks 4 Three Times
Earned Runs 5 Ben Ferrer 5/26 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One)

STARTING GAMES BY POSITION
1B Gonzalez (4), Kuchinski (2), Minzy (1)
2B Lada (4), Banks (3)
3B Banks (2), Kuchinski (2), Leslie (2), Blackford (1)
SS Marine (5), Lada (2)
LF Smith (4), Banks (2), Gonzalez (1)
CF Skinner (6), Guerra (1)
RF Kirby (3), Guerra (2), Smith (2),
DH Kuchinski (3), Blackford (1), Lada (1), Marine (1), Smith (1)

STARTING BATTING ORDER
1—Marine (4), Skinner (3) 5—Banks (2), Gonzalez (2), Lada (1), Minzey (1), Smith (1)
2—Smith (3), Lada (2), Marine (2) 6---Banks (1), Blackford (1), Gonzalez (1), Minzy (1), Lada (1), Skinner (1), Smith (1)
3—Minzy (2), Smith (2), Blackford (1), Gonzalez (1), Marine (1) 7—Lada (3), Banks (2), Skinner (1), Mendoza (1)
4—Kuchinski (7) 8—Kirby (3), Leslie (2), Banks (1), Skinner (1)
9---Guerra (3), Mendoza (3), Gonzalez (1)