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YOLO HIGH WHEELERS (15-14) @ IDAHO FALLS CHUKARS (12-20)
Pitching Matchup:
Yolo–RHP–Brandon McPherson (1-0, 4.29) @ Idaho Falls–LHP–Garrett VanDeventer (0-3, 10.13)
Probables for Idaho Falls (all games are 6:05 p.m. PST)
6/28–Yolo–RHP–Shaun Gamelin (1-1, 6.63) @ Idaho Falls–RHP–Brian Williams (2-3, 6.14)
6/29–Yolo–LHP–Brandon Mitchell (1-1, 8.02) @ Idaho Falls–LHP–Casey Minchey (2-0, 5.82)
6/30–Yolo–RHP-Ben Ferrer (2-1, 6.08) @ Idaho Falls—TBA
TONIGHT'S STARTING PITCHER–6-RHP–BRANDON McPHERSON (1-0, 4.29)
-fifth start/appearance of 2024; no-decision in last start 6/20 vs. Oakland
-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)
-father Darryl played baseball at Spring Hill College (Al.) with Billy Horton
-dad is a United States Marshal based in the Chicago area
GAME LOG
DATE OPP IP H R ER BB K DEC SCORE
5/30 GJ 6 2 1 1 4 6 W 4-1
6/6 '@OAK 6 7 6 5 1 7 ND 8-8 (lost 2-1 KO)
6/13 '@NOCO 5 5 2 2 2 8 ND 5-6
6/20 OAK 4+ 7 3 3 6 2 ND 8–4
HIGH WHEELERS POSITION PLAYERS
2 KIRKLAND BANKS Last Game: 1-4; 2B Hitting Streak: Four Games (6-16)
-six hits over his last four games following an 0-8 slump
-first four-hit game of season on 6/12 @ NOCO.; HR back-to-back games at OAK 6/7-8
-Lamar University alum, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana; loves eating alligator
-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: 4-5; 3B; 2 R; RBI; SB Hitting Streak: 16 Games (35-76)
-extended hitting streak to 16 last night with four hits (first triple); 17 straight games he's reached base safely
-last night was the second game this season with at least four hits (6/18 vs. Oakland had five hits)
-five hits 6/18 vs. OAK; first five-hit game in team history; five runs also tops on Yolo in one game
-pro career best six RBI's on 6/16 at NOCO; went 3-6; three-double in 9th
-reached base safely 15X in series at Northern Colorado
-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: 0-5; 2 R Hitting Streak: No Games
-eight-game hitting streak came to an end last night (.371 over span)
-streak of reaching base safely in 14 straight games ended last night; scored game-deciding run
-first two homers of season on 6/8 @ OAK & seven RBI's in game, most by a High Wheeler
-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: 1-1; 2B as PH Hit Streak: Three Games (6-11)
-first pro Grand Slam on 6/21 vs. OAK; 9-21 (.429) vs. OAK; nine hits over last five games
-three hits and four RBI's are most for him in one game this season on 6/21
-homered in three straight games @ OAK; 6/5-7, all solo, first High Wheeler with HR's in three consecutive games
-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: 0-3; Hitting Streak: No Games
-three hits (all singles) in season opener on May 21
-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; 2 RBI's; 2 SAC FLY Hit Streak: No Games
-snapped 1-19 (.053) slump with two hits on Tuesday including team-high 7th HR (Gonzalez also has 7)
-reached base safely a team record six times on 6/18 vs. OAK along with four steals–also team-high in a game
-with four hits on 6/18 it was his third four-hit game of the season
-finished 15-29 (.517, 2 HR, 7 RBI) in series at NOCO; 3 XBH on 6/16; three-run HR, 4 RBI's
-had four hits (triple shy of the cycle) on 5/28 along with six RBI's vs. Grand Junction
-Grand Slam on 5/28 vs. GJ 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
14 JUSTIN KIRBY Last Game: 0-4; K Hitting Streak: No Games
-tied game with two-out ninth inning single the other night
-streak of ten straight games for him scoring at least one run ended Tuesday (12 in that span)
-first pro homer was 6/11 @ Northern Colorado; two total in series
-outfielder signed on May 28th for his first pro contract; two hits on 5/28 in pro debut vs. GJ
-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)
23 JOSE GONZALEZ Last Game: 1-4; BB Hitting Streak: Six Games (11-24)
-three straight multi-hit games 6/22-25; has four hits in this series
-went 9-23 (.391) in series vs. Oakland, reached base safely 14X in set
-team-high seventh homer of season on 6/22 (first at home);
-three homers in series @OAK and three more in series at Northern Colorado
-two homers 6/4 @ Oakland; first two homers of season; first Yolo player with two HR in a game
-amassed 33 homers in his Texas State University Bobcats career with a .290 average
-played in the 2022 NCAA Division I Baseball Team; Stanford All-Region Team (homered in set)
31 TANNER SMITH Last Game: 1-3; 2B; BB Hitting Streak: Two Games (2-7)
-streak of reaching base in 16 straight games ended on 6/22 going 0-1 as PH
-nine-game hit streak (11-34, .324) snapped 6/18; was hitless in first 15 AB's this year
-second professional season; last year with Tri-City (Frontier League) .289, 3, 23
-homered in back-to-back games at Oakland 6/7-8; first two homers of the season
-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: No Games
-three hits in last 25 AB's (.120); first pro HR was 6/4 @ Oakland
-last year was with Trenton (MLB Draft League), .185, 0, 8 , hit homer against the Savannah Bananas
-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: Pinch Ran Hitting Streak: No Games
-hitless in last seven AB's; has pinch run in both games of this series
-became first position player to pitch for Yolo; scoreless ninth inning on 6/19 vs. Oakland
-second professional season; signed by the High Wheelers out of a tryout camp
-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)
44 ALEJANDRO FIGUEREDO Last Game: 2-4; BB; RBI Hitting Streak: Three Games (6-13)
-five hits and two RBI's over the first two games of this series
-first baseman joined High Wheelers 6/19 from Billings (Pioneer League) .329, 3, 23, 21 games (Billings totals)
-hit first homer in a Yolo uniform 6/20; has four overall this year between Yolo & Billings
-hitting streaks of five & six games this season, has two four-RBI games this year with Billings
-played at Billings last season (.287, 9, 38) for now Yolo manager Billy Horton
-originally from Sucre, Venezuela; three seasons at Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Florida
-overall had 41 homers in college, Florida Gulf Coast University is NCAA-DI (Atlantic Sun Conference)
-Third Team All-America & First Team All Conference in 2023 at FGCU–.361, 23, 71
HIGH WHEELERS BULLPEN (CURRENT SERIES): (1-0; 2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 6 K)
10 NOAH ESTRELLA Last Appearance: 6/25 @ Idaho Falls (1 IP, 3 K)–struck out side in order
-signed from Pioneer League tryout camp in Arizona
-pitched two seasons at New Mexico State (39 games overall with Aggies, was 5-3); appeared in 2022 NCAA
-last two summers 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
17 JACK ZALASKY Last Appearance: 6/26 @ Idaho Falls (1 IP, H, W)
-picked up third win of the season last night with scoreless eighth inning
-earned his first win of season on 5/28 vs. GJ; recorded final out & picked up first SV in team history on May 21
-last year at Mahoning Valley (MLBDL) 1-0, 7.88, 12 games; native of Sacramento, alum of Elk Grove HS
-five seasons at Sac 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; grandfather played football at Sac State
21 JC ARIZA Last Appearance: 6/26 @ Idaho Falls (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K, HR)
-surrendered game-tying homer in the seventh inning last night, since move to bullpen (3 games, 5.40 ERA)
-activated from the injured list on 6/21; missed ten days due to biceps issues
-suffered injury on 6/9 @ Oakland after being hit with a line drive; makes move to the bullpen after three starts
-alum of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, 3-9 over three seasons for Vaqueros
-grew up in Belleville, New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Prep; is of Cuban descent
22 NOAH LEWIS Last Appearance: 6/25 @ Idaho Falls (2 IP, K)
-two scoreless innings other night, through five games with Yolo has eight shutout frames
-signed 6/11 by Yolo; preserved team's first shutout on 6/21 pitching eighth and ninth innings vs. Oakland
-first year pro began this season with the Marysville Drakes (1-1, 3.30) of the Pecos League where he was a starter
-went to spring training with the High Wheelers after being let go before the season
-right-hander is originally from Pleasanton, Ca. (Foothill HS) where he also played basketball and football
-pitched and played right field at Contra Costa Community College
25 TY BUCKNER Last Appearance: 6/25 @ Idaho Falls (1 IP, H, K)
-allowed first earned run in a home game on 6/22, home totals 6 2⁄3 IP, 1 ER, 1.42 ERA
-picked up two saves in last series at Northern Colorado; leads the team with three saves
-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
30 TURNER THOMPSON Last Appearance: 6/25 @ Idaho Falls (1 IP, H, BB)
-two shutout innings through first two games; played two seasons each at Tulane & Samford University
-signed 6/18 by Yolo; grew up in Tampa where he still lives; father Mark was college teammate of Billy Horton
-this season at Samford (Birmingham, AL) was 0-0; 18 games, 8.55 ERA, 3-3 lifetime at Samford
-alum of Tampa Jesuit High School where the school won a state title when he was there
34 CONNOR LANGRELL Last Appearance: 6/26 @ Idaho Falls (1 IP, K, SV)
-picked up second save of season with perfect ninth inning last night; was first save since 5/29 vs. Grand Junction
-earned first win of the season on last road trip on 6/16 @ Northern Colorado with 1 2⁄3 shutout effort
-last season with Williamsport (MLB Draft) (0-0, 2.52, 23 games (all relief) ; three seasons DII Newman University in Wichita
-spent last college year (2023) as graduate player at Bradley University (2-1, 11 saves); originally from Tampa area
47 JACOB STOBART Last Appearance: 6/23 vs. Oakland (2 2⁄3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB (1 IBB), L)
-suffered first loss of the season on 6/23 vs. Oakland allowing three seventh inning runs
-team-high fourth-win on 6/14 @ Northern Colorado
-first win in team history pitching two innings in resumption of game from May 21st vs. Rocky Mountain
-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 12 6/7 @ Oakland
Hits: 21 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Hits Allowed: 15 6/7 @ Oakland
Home Runs 5 6/8 @ Oakland
Errors: 3 Three Times last: 6/22 vs. Oakland
Runs in inning: 9 5/28 vs. Grand Junction (Eighth Inning)
Strikeouts for Pitchers: 14 6/4 @ Oakland
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Hits 5 Braylin Marine 6/18 vs. Oakland
RBI's 7 Brayland Skinner 6/8 @ Oakland
Walks 3 Multiple Times last: Braedon Blackford 6/4 @ Oakland
Runs 5 Braylin Marine/Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Reaching Safely 6X Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Home Runs 2 Accomplished Twice last: Brayland Skinner 6/8 @ Oakland
Stolen Bases 4 Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
INDIVIDUAL PITCHING SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Innings 6 1⁄3 Ben Ferrer 6/16 @ Northern Colorado
Hits 10 Accomplished Twice last: Cameron Repetti 6/25 @ Idaho Falls
Strikeouts 9 Multiple Times last: Cameron Repetti 6/18 vs. Oakland
Walks 6 Brandon McPherson 6/20 vs. Oakland
Earned Runs 7 Accomplished Twice last: Cameron Repetti 6/25 @ Idaho Falls
STARTING GAMES BY POSITION
C Mendoza (19), Minzey (10)
1B Gonzalez (14), Kuchinski (6), Figueredo (5), Minzy (3), Blackford (1)
2B Lada (18), Banks (9), Marine (2)
3B Blackford (15), Banks (10), Kuchinski (2), Leslie (2)
SS Marine (22), Lada (7)
LF Smith (9), Gonzalez (8), Kirby (8), Banks (4)
CF Skinner (25), Guerra (4)
RF Smith (13), Kirby (10), Guerra (6)
DH Kuchinski (9), Gonzalez (4), Blackford (3), Marine (3), Banks (2), Lada (2), Skinner (2), Smith (2),
Figueredo (1) Minzey (1)
STARTING BATTING ORDER
1—Skinner (24), Marine (5)
2—Marine (20), Lada (6), Smith (3)
3–Lada (16), Blackford (4), Gonzalez (2), Minzy (2), Smith (2), Banks (1), Kuchinski (1), Marine (1)
4-Gonzalez (18), Kuchinksi (10), Blackford (1)
5-Blackford (6), Banks (5), Figueredo (5), Gonzalez (4), Kuchinski (4), Smith (2), Figueredo (1), Lada (1), Minzey (1)
6---Kirby (7), Blackford (6), Smith (4), Banks (3),Kuchinski (2), Marine (2), Minzey (2), Gonzalez (1), Lada (1), Skinner (1)
7—Smith (9), Kirby (8), Banks (5), Lada (3), Blackford (1), Mendoza (1), Minzy (1), Skinner (1)
8—Banks (9), Guerra (4), Minzey (4), Smith (4), Kirby (3), Leslie (2), Blackford (1), Mendoza (1), Skinner (1)
9–Mendoza (17), Guerra (6), Minzey (4), Banks (1), Gonzalez (1)