Watch & Listen to Game 03 against Ballers

Game three of this six-game series in Oakland will be tonight at 6:35.  Yolo left-hander Brandon McPherson (1-0) will get the start against Oakland righty Kelsie Whitmore (0-0) who will be the first female starting pitcher in Pioneer League history.

Listen to the Yolo High Wheeler Commentary here

Watch the Game Broadcast on FloSports here

Pitching Matchup:
Yolo–LHP-Brandon McPherson (1-0, 1.50) vs. Oakland–RHP–Kelsie Whitmore (0-0, 21.21)
Probables for Oakland: Thursday-Friday are 6:35 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday are 1:05 p.m.
6/7--Yolo—RHP—Shaun Gamelin (0-0, 7.20) @ Oakland--RHP—Christian Cosby (1-1, 11.57)
6/8--Yolo—LHP–Brandon Mitchell (0-0, 9.00) @ Oakland—RHP—Carson Lambert (0-1, 9.49)
6/9--Yolo—TBA @ Oakland--RHP–Elijah Pleasants (1-0, 5.06)

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER—6-LHP-BRANDON McPHERSON (1-0, 1.50)

-makes his second start/appearance of 2024; winning pitcher in last start against Grand Junction
-second year in Pioneer League, last season with Billings was 3-0, 5.23, eight games/seven starts
-manager last season with the Mustangs is Yolo manager Billy Horton
-Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week (8/21-28) last year
-played three seasons at Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, Ill.), career with Huskies was 4-7
-went to Wabash Valley College prior to NIU
-originally from the western Chicago suburbs (North Aurora, Illinois)
-2018 Aurora Beacon-News Baseball Player of the Year his senior season at Marmion Academy
GAME LOG
DATE OPP IP H R ER BB K DEC SCORE
5/30 GJ 6 2 1 1 4 6 W 4-1

HIGH WHEELERS POSITION PLAYERS
2 KIRKLAND BANKS Last Game: 1-3; BB Hitting Streak: Three Games (4-11)
-Lamar University alum, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana; loves eating alligator
-season opening five-game hit streak came to an end 5/29 (5-20, .250)
-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: 0-5; 2 K Hitting Streak: No Games
-finished last series 10-22 (.455), all ten hits were singles; scored four runs on 5/28 vs. GJ
-reached base safely 15 times over his five games vs. GJ (five walks/ten singles)
-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: 1-5 Hitting Streak: Three Games (5-12)
-snapped 0-9 was three hits on 6/2, four runs scored matched the most by a High Wheeler in a game
-Memphis area native (Southaven, Mississippi)
-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: 1-3; HR; RBI Hitting Streak: One Game (1-3)
-accounted for only Yolo run last night with first homer of the year; solo in the sixth
-walked three times Tuesday matching the most by a High Wheeler in one game
-picked up the first hit in Yolo history with a first inning single on May 21
-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: 1-4 Hitting Streak: No Games
-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
-played 32 games last year w/Williamsport (MLB Draft League) (.268, 0, 6)

11 BOBBY LADA (LUH-DAY) Last Game: 0-3; BB Hitting Streak: No Games
-five-game hitting streak snapped last night, was 7-19, .368; has reached base safely all 11 games this year
-completed Grand Junction series with two homers (Grand Slam) and 12 RBI’s; was 10-21 (.476)
-12 of 14 RBI’s came in series vs. Grand Junction with eight hits in 16 AB’s (.500)
-had four hits (triple shy of the cycle) on 5/28 along with six RBI’s vs. Grand Junction
-eighth inning Grand Slam on 5/28 was first homer in Yolo history
-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: 1-2; BB; HP Hitting Streak: Two Games (2-4)
-took part in five-run first inning on 6/2 with two-run single vs. Grand Junction
-outfielder signed on May 28th for his first pro contract; two hits on 5/28 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, Ga.
-was Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year at Kent State in 2019 (.313, 9, 30)

18 SAM KUCHINSKI Last Game: 2-4; Hitting Streak: Two Games (4-8)
-gave High Wheelers the lead for good in fifth on Tuesday with first pro HR
-streak of reaching base safely in seven straight games ended on 6/1 vs. Grand Junction
-four-game season-opening hitting streak snapped 5/29., 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: 0-3; BB Hitting Streak: No Games
-seven-game hit streak snapped last night; was 15-27 (.556); eight straight on-base safely streak
-first two homers of season on Tuesday; four RBI’s overall, first Yolo player with two-homer game
-reached base safely 19 times over last series vs. Grand Junction & 21 in last seven games
-four hits on 6/2 (all singles), completed a 13-22 six-game set (.591) with seven RBI’s against Grand Junction
-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 School

31 TANNER SMITH Last Game: DNP Hitting Streak: No Games (hitless in last 7 AB’s)
-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: DNP Hitting Streak: Four Games (4-16)
-smacked first pro homer on Tuesday leading off the seventh
-first pro season, last year was with Trenton (MLB Draft League), .185, 0, 8
-Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 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: appeared as PR Hitting Streak: No Games
-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 IN LAST SEVEN GAMES): (36 IP/42 K)
10 NOAH ESTRELLA Last Appearance: 6/4 @ Oakland (1 IP, H, R, ER, 3 BB, 2 K)
-losing pitcher/blown save on 5/31 vs. Grand Junction after allowing two-run homer in the top of the eighth
-pitched two seasons at New Mexico State (39 games overall with Aggies, was 5-3); appeared in 2022 NCAA
-last two seasons with Pulaski in the Appalachian League (MLB Draft), combined 2-1 in 15 games
-father Erick was his high school coach at Flowing Hills in Tucson

15 BEN FERRER Last Appearance: 6/5 @ Oakland (2 IP, H, 3 K)
-two shutout innings last night; eight straight shutout IP over last three games
-long relief on 6/1 with four shutout frames, six strikeouts; six K’s tied for most in one game for Yolo
-earned his first win of season on 5/29 vs. Grand Junction with two shutout frames
-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: 6/5 @ Oakland (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K, HR)
-struck out side on ten pitches Tuesday in seventh inning; last night allowed two-run homer in bottom eighth
-earned his win of season on 5/28 vs. GJ; recorded final out & picked up first save in team history on May 21
-last year at Mahoning Valley (MLB Draft League) 1-0, 7.88, 12 games
-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: 6/1 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP, K)
-finished three games in series vs. GJ (3 IP, 0 R, 3 K); notched first pro save on 5/30
-spent three years pitching for Missouri State and one with Gonzaga (college career 8-9, 5.32)
-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 on 5/28 with 2/3 of shutout relief, followed that with SHO inning on 5/31 vs. GJ
-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: 6/2 vs. Grand Junction (1 IP, R, ER, 3 BB, K)
-worked 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) ; 4-8 MiLB record
-didn’t pitch competitively after spring training last season, spent 2023 working out and pitching on side
-Bakersfield native who attended Frontier High School

34 CONNOR LANGRELL Last Appearance: 6/4 @ Oakland (1 IP, 2 K)
-notched first pro save with a perfect ninth inning on 5/29 vs. GJ; last four games (5 IP, 0 H, 5 K)
-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 Tampa area

47 JACOB STOBART Last Appearance: 6/2 vs. Grand Junction (3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, K, W)
-picked up second win of the season on 6/2 with three innings of middle relief, now 2-0
-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)
Strikeouts for Pitchers: 14 6/4 @ Oakland

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Hits: 4 Multiple Times
RBI’s 6 Bobby Lada 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Walks: 3 Multiple Times
Runs 4 Multiple Times
Reaching Base Safely 5X Accomplished several times
Home Runs 2 Jose Gonzalez 6/4 @ Oakland

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Innings: 6 Accomplished several times
Hits: 7 Cameron Repetti 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Strikeouts: 9 Dawson Lane 6/5 @ Oakland
Walks 4 Accomplished multiple times
Earned Runs 5 Ben Ferrer 5/26 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One)

STARTING GAMES BY POSITION
C Mendoza (7), Minzey (4)
1B Gonzalez (5), Kuchinski (3), Minzy (2), Blackford (1)
2B Lada (8), Banks (3)
3B Blackford (4), Banks (3), Kuchinski (2), Leslie (2),
SS Marine (9), Lada (2)
LF Smith (4), Banks (3), Gonzalez (3), Kirby (1)
CF Skinner (10), Guerra (1)
RF Kirby (4), Smith (4), Guerra (3)
DH Kuchinski (5), Banks (1), Blackford (1), Gonzalez (1), Lada (1), Marine (1), Smith (1)

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