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OAKLAND BALLERS (27-22; 0-1) @ YOLO HIGH WHEELERS (24-23; 1-0)

Pitching Matchup:
Oakland–RHP–Carson Lambert (2-2, 6.81) @ Yolo–RHP-Brandon McPherson (1-0, 4.62)
Probables for Oakland (Thursday-Saturday, 4:30, Sunday 1:05 p.m.)
7/18–Oakland–LHP–JP Gates (0-1, 2.81) @ Yolo–LHP–Brandon Mitchell (3-1, 6.69)
7/19–Oakland—RHP–Christian Cosby (5-1, 4.86) @ Yolo–RHP–Ben Ferrer (3-2, 6.54)
7/20–Oakland–RHP–Zach St. Pierre (2-2, 7.53) @ Yolo–TBA
7/21–Oakland–RHP–Justin Kleinsorge (0-2, 6.00) @ Yolo–TBA

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER–6-RHP-BRANDON McPHERSON (1-0, 4.62)

-eighth/appearance of 2024; in three starts vs. Oakland is 0-0, 3.94, 15 K
-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
-father Daryl is an United States Marshal and was a teammate of Billy Horton at Spring Hill University
-originally from the western Chicago suburbs (North Aurora, Illinois)
-2018 Aurora Beacon-News Baseball Player of the Year his senior season at Marmion Academy

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
6/27 @IDF 5 9 5 5 1 4 ND 9-12
7/4 OAK 6 6 1 1 1 6 ND 5-5 (lost 2-1 KO)
7/11 RM 5 6 3 3 3 1 ND 7-8

HIGH WHEELERS POSITION PLAYERS
2 KIRKLAND BANKS Last Game: 0-2; BB Hit Streak: No Games
-yesterday was first game back since 7/7; missed series vs. Rocky Mountain due to illness
-first pro Grand Slam on 7/7 at OAK; HR in last two games @ OAK 7/6-7
-first four-hit game of season on 6/12 @ NOCO
-Lamar University alum, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana; loves eating alligator
-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: 3-4; 2B; R; RBI Hit Streak: Four Games (8-16)
-streak of 28 straight games reaching base safely came to an end 7/11 vs. RM; was 0-1 as pinch hitter
-has hit safely in ten-of-last-11 games (17-38, .447); five RBI's 7/6 @ Oakland
-inside park two-run homer on 7/2 vs. OAK; first inside park HR in Yolo history
-two homers on 6/30 at Idaho Falls (first two-HR game), was 12-25, 8 RBI's , 11 R in series @ IDH (,480)
-on 6/26 @ IDF 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
-five seasons at NCAA—Division II-- Newberry (SC) College; all-time SB leader with 100

5 BRAYLAND SKINNER Last Game: 3-4; 3 R Hit Streak: One Game (3-4)
-three hits yesterday (all singles); seventh three-hit game; stole team-high 23rd base
-seven-game hit streak snapped on 7/12 vs. RM; was 11-31 (.355) during streak
-four stolen bases 7/7 @ Oakland; matching most for a High Wheeler (Lada 6/18 vs. OAK)
-first two homers on 6/8 @ OAK & 7 RBI's in game (along with Lada most in one game)
-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
-last season was in the MLB Draft League with Williamsport (.333, 1, 19, 12 SB)

7 BRAEDON BLACKFORD Last Game: 1-4; RBI Hit Streak: One Game (1-4)
-four three-hit games this season; two three-hit games in recent series vs. Rocky Mountain
-nine hits in 21 AB's in series vs. Rocky Mountain, .429
-started five run-producing rallies vs. RM with leadoff hit which led to 22 runs
-five-of-eight homers are against Oakland; first pro Grand Slam on 6/21 vs. OAK
-homered in three straight @ OAK; 6/5-7, all solo, first High Wheeler with HR's in three consecutive games
-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: DNP Hit Streak: Three Games (4-9)
-three hits (all singles) in season opener on May 21; three runs scored 6/28 @ IDF most for him
-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: 2-4; 2B; R; 2 RBI's Hit Streak: Three Games (6-11)
-six hits in 21 AB's series vs. Rocky Mountain (.286); four four-hit games this season
-series at Idaho Falls (6/25-30): 11-27 (.407) with 13 RBI's
-seven RBI's on 6/29 at IDF; matches Braylin Skinner for most in one game with Yolo
-reached base safely a team record six times on 6/18 vs. OAK along with four steals–tied for team-high in a game
- 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
-played last season for West Virginia in the MLB Draft League
-two seasons for the University of Louisiana, and finished college career at NAIA William Carey

18 ALEX EPP Last Game: 0-3 Hit Streak: No Games
-first two-hit game as a High Wheeler on 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain (two singles)
-acquired from Lake Erie of the Frontier League on July 9 for future considerations
-at Lake Erie hit .243, 0, 3 in 15 games; nine hits in 37 AB's; first year pro is primarily a shortstop but can also play third
-other MLB Parner League assignments this year, Lincoln of the American Association & Lake Erie
-five seasons at William Jewell (NCAA-DII, Liberty, Mo.), this past season hit .411, 19, 57 for the Cardinals
-third in average, second in homers, and first in walks with 55 Great Lakes Valley Conference
-Epp Earns Honorable Mention All-America Honors From NCBWA - William Jewell College Athletics (jewellcardinals.com)
-Pre-Season Conference All-Second Team and Academic All-American Honors; Civil Engineering Major at William Jewell
-originally from Wichita, Kansas (Maize High School)

19 EDDIE NIEMANN Last Game: 0-3; HBP Hit Streak: No Games
-six-game hit streak snapped yesterday, was 10-21, .476; first three-hit game with Yolo on 7/14 vs. RM
-had at least one RBI in his first five games with the High Wheelers
-first pro homer was G2 of doubleheader on 7/10 (two-run clout); second homer on 7/13 in sixth inning
-through seven games has been HBP four times including w/bases loaded in G1 on 7/10; game-deciding RBI
-signed on 7/9; second year pro; Empire State Greys (Frontier League) last year
-main position is catcher but can play first base; alum of St. Leo University (St. Leo, Florida)
-final year at St. Leo was 2023, led the Lions with seven homers, and 39 RBI's; played there 2021-23
-hails from Scottsdale, Arizona (Pinnacle High School)

23 JOSE GONZALEZ Last Game: 0-3; SAC FLY; RBI Hit Streak: No Games
-streak of 20 games reaching base safely & seven-game hit streak (10-23, .435) ended yesterday
-Grand Slam in ninth inning 7/14, first 'Slam of the season & pro career
-seven games of at least three hits
-hitting streak of 12 games ended on 7/4, was 22-50 over the dozen contests (.440)
-four hits on 6/25 @ Idaho Falls; other four-hit game was June 2; 12-26 at Idaho Falls (.462)
-three homers in series @OAK (6/4-9) and three more in series at Northern Colorado (6/11-16)
-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 2022 NCAA Tourney

31 TANNER SMITH Last Game: DNP Hit Streak: No Games
-snapped 0-15 drought 7/10 in G1, 6th inning bunt single; third HR of season on 7/13
-broke game open 7/5 @ OAK with three-run double in 8th (most RBI's for him in a game this year)
-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; 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)

35 ANGEL MENDOZA Last Game: DNP Hit Streak: No Games
-six hits in last 62 AB's (.097); snapped 0-21 on 7/11 vs. Rocky Mountain with single
-second homer on 6/28 @ Idaho Falls; solo in third inning; first pro HR was 6/4 @ OAK
-last year was with Trenton (MLB Draft League), .185, 0, 8 , hit homer against the Savannah Bananas
-Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of Year in 2023 at Union College (KY); third in league batting at .404
-established single season school record with 25 homers, and 27 hit by pitches (.404, 25, 53)
-won the Gold Glove as catcher for the conference; helped lead Bulldogs to the NAIA Playoffs

37 KYLE GUERRA Last Game: DNP Hit Streak: Seven Games (10-25)
-first homer as a High Wheeler 7/12 vs. Rocky Mountain; solo in fourth inning
-current seven-game hitting streak is his longest this year, is 10-25, .400 during stretch
-second pitching performance this year on 7/14, allowed back-to-back HR's (three runs)
-has started at five different positions (2B, 3B, LF, CF, RF), most by any Yolo player
-first appearance/start professionally at third base on 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain
-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: DNP t Streak: Five Games (8-17)
-placed on injured list 7/9 with ankle issue; injured on 7/6 @ Oakland after hitting double
-nine hits in his last 13 AB's (.692) over course of his five games against Oakland
-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 vs. OAK; has four overall this year between Yolo & Billings
-hitting streaks of five & six games this season, 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): (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 3 K, 4.50 ERA)
17 JACK ZALASKY Last Appearance: 7/16 vs. Oakland (1 IP, K)
-winning pitcher 7/6 @ Oakland upping record to 5-1; most wins on the team; three SHO innings over last three games
-was 2-0 in series at IDF with two shutout frames; fourth win of the year on 6/29
-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

22 NOAH LEWIS Last Appearance: 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain (2⁄3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB)
-two appearances (one start) in recent series against Rocky Mountain
-in first start with High Wheelers (7/10 (G2) vs. Rocky Mountain--4 2⁄3 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 3 K)
-signed by Yolo on June 11; began the year in the Pecos League with Marysville Drakes
-three games with Marysville as a starter, was 1-1, 3.30
-preserved team's first shutout on 6/21 pitching eighth and ninth innings vs. Oakland
-went to spring training with the High Wheelers; pitched and played right field at Contra Costa Community College
-alum of Foothill HS in Pleasanton, California

25 TY BUCKNER Last Appearance: 7/14 vs. Oakland (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, K)
-finished game yesterday in non-save situation; has allowed three runs over last two games
-first loss of the season on 7/11 vs. Rocky Mountain allowing two ninth inning runs
-notched team-high fourth save on 7/9 vs. Rocky Mountain
-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 Achilles injury & Tommy John Surgery

28 JIMMY LEWIS Last Appearance: 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB)
-made Yolo debut on 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain, allowed three runs in sixth inning
-right-hander signed by Yolo on July 11; originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers; second round, 2019
-highest level was Low-A Rancho Cucamonga (California League); spent 2021-23 in Dodgers chain
-last season was at the Dodgers Arizona Complex League in Glendale, 1-1 in 11 relief outings, 6.14
-native of Jacksonville, Florida, went to Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas

30 TURNER THOMPSON Last Appearance: 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, BB, K)
-nine earned runs over last six appearances; 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

32 KRIS ANGLIN Last Appearance: 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, BB, K)
-three appearances vs. RM: 1-0; 4 1⁄3 shutout innings with six strikeouts; nine K's in five games since return from IL
-first win of season 7/10 (G2); season-high 4 K's; first win since 7/28/22 while w/Braves Florida Complex team
-return to action on 7/6 @ OAK, pitched perfect sixth with three strikeouts
-was on injured list from 6/18 through 7/4; removed from IL on 7/5; Frontier High alum from Bakersfield
-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

34 CONNOR LANGRELL Last Appearance: 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain (1⁄3 IP, BB, K)
-third save of the season on 7/6 @ OAK with perfect ninth inning; first win of season 6/16 @ NOCO 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); much of youth spent in Las Vegas
-attended in high school in Clovis, New Mexico; moved around a lot as a kid as father was in the newspaper business

TEAM GAME HIGHS
Runs: 19 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Runs Allowed 19 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain
Hits: 21 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Hits Allowed: 17 7/6 @ Oakland & 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain
Home Runs 5 6/8 @ Oakland
Errors: 3 5X last: 7/14 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 5 Braylin Marine 6/18 vs. Oakland
RBI's 7 Accomplished Twice last: Bobby Lada 6/29 @ Idaho Falls
Walks 3 Multiple Times last: Brayland Skinner 7/14 vs. Rocky Mountain
Runs 5 Braylin Marine/Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Reaching Safely 6X Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Home Runs 2 Accomplished 4X last: Justin Kirby 7/6 @ Oakland
Stolen Bases 4 Accomplished 2X last: Brayland Skinner 7/7 @ Oakland

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Innings 7 Accomplished 4X last: Cameron Repetti 7/16 vs. Oakland
Hits 12 Dawson Lane 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One)
Strikeouts 10 Accomplished 2X last: 7/13 Ben Ferrer vs. Rocky Mountain
Walks 6 Brandon McPherson 6/20 vs. Oakland
Earned Runs 7 Accomplished 4X last: JC Ariza 7/7 @ Oakland

STARTING GAMES BY POSITION
C Mendoza (30), Minzey (15), Niemann (2)
1B Gonzalez (18), Figueredo (10), Kuchinski (6), Niemann (5), Blackford (4), Minzy (4)
2B Lada (28), Banks (12), Marine (3), Guerra (2), Epp (2)
3B Blackford (22), Banks (16), Epp (4), Kuchinski (2), Leslie (2), Guerra (1)
SS Marine (35), Lada (11), Epp (1)
LF Kirby (15), Gonzalez (13), Smith (9), Banks (4), Blackford (3), Guerra (2), Minzey (1)
CF Skinner (40), Guerra (7)
RF Smith (27), Kirby (11), Guerra (6), Gonzalez (3)
DH Kuchinski (9), Gonzalez (7), Blackford (5), Marine (5), Figueredo (4), Lada (4), Skinner (4), Banks (3)
Smith (3), Minzey (2), Kirby (1)

STARTING BATTING ORDER
1—Skinner (41), Marine (6)
2—Marine (34), Lada (10), Smith (3)
3–Lada (28), Blackford (8), Gonzalez (3), Smith (3), Minzy (2), Banks (2), Kuchinski (1))
4-Gonzalez (31), Kuchinksi (10), Blackford (4), Niemann (2)
5-Figueredo (12), Blackford (9), Smith (6), Banks (5), Gonzalez (5), Kuchinski (4), Niemann (3), Figueredo (1), Lada (1), Minzey (1)
6-Blackford (11), Kirby (10). Smith (9), Banks (3), Kuchinski (2), Lada (2), Marine (2), Minzey (2),
Epp (1), Figueredo (1), Gonzalez (1), Guerra (1),Niemann (1), Skinner (1)
7—Kirby (13), Smith (13), Banks (11), Lada (3), Minzey (3), Blackford (1), Guerra (1), Mendoza (1), Skinner (1)
8—Banks (13), Guerra (9), Minzey (6), Smith (5), Epp (4), Kirby (4), Leslie (2), Mendoza (2), Blackford (1), Skinner (1)
9–Mendoza (27), Minzey (8), Guerra (7), Epp (2), Banks (1), Gonzalez (1), Niemann (1)