
High Wheelers Rally in Explosive Comeback
It was a tale of two games on Father's Day at 4Rivers Equipment Stadium. The Yolo High Wheelers (11-10) who were shutout through six innings scored 14 runs over the last three frames and defeated the Northern Colorado Owlz (15-9) 14-3. With the win, the High Wheelers won the series 4-2 and finished their first road trip 6-6.
Yolo was down 2-0 with two out in the seventh inning. Shortstop Braylin Marine came through with a two-run single which tied the game.
After NoCO regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on a pinch single by Dave Mathews, the High Wheelers took it from there in the eighth scoring eight times and sending 11 to the plate. First baseman Jose Gonzalez (6) led off with a homer to tie at three. Designated hitter Sam Kuchinski followed with a walk, and was lifted for pinch runner Kyle Guerra. After a pitching change, left fielder Justin Kirby singled to left. Guerra eventually scored on a wild pitch which gave the High Wheelers the lead for good. Kirby's run which made it 5-3 came courtesy of a sacrifice fly by third baseman Braedon Blackford. The additional runs were on an RBI double by center fielder Brayland Skinner, a single by Marine, and the biggest blow was a three-run homer by second baseman Bobby Lada (6) to cap the inning and give the visitors a 10-3 advantage.
Four runs were added in the ninth by Yolo, three on a double by Marine and one on a two-base hit by Lada. Marine finished with three hits and six RBI's. In the series, he was 13-29 (.448) with a homer and 11 RBI's. Lada on Sunday was 3-5 with four RBI's. In the series, he was 15-29 (.517) with eight RBI's and two round-trippers.
Sunday was the third straight game where every High Wheeler in the starting lineup reached base safely. Yolo also finished with double digits in hits in all six contests--total of 80 and had 11 homers.
Ben Ferrer in his first professional start worked 6 1/3 innings (most by a Yolo pitcher). He struck out seven, allowed four hits, three runs (all earned), and walked one. Connor Langrell (1-0) worked 1 2/3 shutout innings for the win.
NoCO starter Robb Adams struck out seven over five innings in his first pro start. Chase Gearing (2-2) was the losing pitcher.
Yolo will have Monday off before starting a six-game homestand on Tuesday against Oakland. The first pitch will be at 4:30. Right-hander Aaron Eden is the probable for Oakland against Yolo righty Cameron Repetti.
HIGH TALES
The High Wheelers had 11 homers over the six games in the series and 28 on the road trip
Langrell's ERA is 0.63. He has allowed one earned run in 14 1/3 innings this year with 12 strikeouts
Right fielder Tanner Smith extended his hitting streak to nine games with a seventh inning single. It's the longest such streak for a Yolo player. Smith has 11 hits in that span