
Late Decisive Sacrifice Fly, The Difference
Yolo High Wheelers (15-14) second baseman Bobby Lada delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning making the difference in a 4-3 victory over the Idaho Falls Chukars (12-20) at Melaleuca Field on Wednesday night.
Braedon Blackford led off the ninth for Yolo with a pinch double. However, center fielder Brayland Skinner trying to advance Blackford pushed his attempted sacrifice bunt too sharply to Idaho Falls pitcher Steven Ordorica (1-1) who threw to third and Blackford was out on a fielder's choice. With Skinner at first and one out, shortstop Braylin Marine capped his four-hit night with a single to center which advanced Skinner to third which set the stage for Lada's sac fly to right. Lada also had a sac fly in the fifth. He finished with two RBI's.
Yolo manager Billy Horton spoke highly of Marine and Lada, "Braylin did a great job on both sides of the ball. He was huge for us offensively and excellent on defense. Bobby's at-bat in the ninth was gigantic. He spit on low pitches early in the count and got a pitch he could drive into the outfield for the sac fly."
The High Wheelers scored single runs in the first, third and fifth innings. Skinner reached to open the game on a two-base fielding error by Idaho Falls second baseman Noah Gent. Marine followed with a single, scoring Skinner. The hit for Marine extended his hitting streak to a team-high 16 games. First baseman Alejandro Figueredo contributed with an RBI single in the third. In the fifth, Marine led off with a triple allowing Lada an opportunity with the sac fly.
Dawson Lane started for Yolo and allowed one run (earned) in six innings on two hits, he struck out four. Lane said, "I felt pretty confident in my stuff and was doing good at getting ahead early in counts so I was keeping them off balance. They (Idaho Falls) kept swinging at offspeed stuff down and hitting it into our defense and they made some great plays behind me."
However, after his departure, JC Ariza entered the seventh innings with Yolo leading 3-1. The right-hander gave up a single and then a two-run homer to Brandon Bohning (5) which tied it.
Jack Zalasky (3-1) earned the win for Yolo with a scoreless eighth inning while Connor Langrell (2) pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Tyler Naumann issued seven hits in six innings in a starting role for Idaho Falls. He gave up three runs (two earned).
This series is tied at one. On Thursday night, Yolo will send right-hander Brandon McPherson to the hill against Idaho Falls left-hander Garrett VanDeventer with a 6:05 p.m. PST commencement.
HIGH TALES
The four hits for Marine (three singles, and a triple) was his second game of at least four hits. He had five against Oakland on June 18th in Davis. During the streak, he's 35-76 (.461)
Designated hitter Jose Gonzalez has hit safely in his last six games. He's 11-24 in that stretch, .458
Langrell's save was his first since May 29h at home against Grand Junction
Lane's performance was the second by a High Wheeler who went six innings issuing two hits. Brandon McPherson was the other on May 30th in Davis against Grand Junction