Hot Start leaves Yolo in the dust, 19-7 loss

Davis, Ca.---Rocky Mountain Vibes (21-25) center fielder Brett Carson led off Sunday's game at Dobbins Stadium with a single to right.  And his teammates kept right on following in a 19-7 win over the Yolo High Wheelers (23-23) in the final first half game for both.  Carson would eventually score as part of a five-run opening stanza.  The Vibes sent ten to the plate in the inning.  The run-producing plays were courtesy of a single by second baseman Ernie Yake (12 hits in the series), an error by Yolo third baseman Kyle Guerra scored two runs, and two-run single by designated hitter Mason Sykes.  All nine starters for Rocky Mountain reached base safely in the game with eight having at least a hit.  Despite all the offense, it was easy to pick a star for the Vibes.  It was Sykes who was five-for-six with six RBI's, both professional highs.

GAMES PREVIEW: ROCKY MOUNTAIN VIBES (20-25) @ YOLO HIGH WHEELERS (23-22)

Pitching Matchup:
Rocky Mountain–LHP–Nick Powers (0-3, 7.40) @ Yolo–RHP–JC Ariza (0-3, 7.64)
Probables for Oakland (Tuesday-Saturday, 4:30, Sunday 1:05 p.m.)
7/16–Oakland–RHP—Justin Kleinsorge (0-1, 5.54) @ Yolo–RHP–Cameron Repetti (3-1, 4.70)
7/17–Oakland–RHP–Carson Lambert (2-2, 6.81) @ Yolo–TBA
7/18-7/21 both teams are TBA

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER–21–JC ARIZA (0-3, 7.64)

-tenth appearance and fifth start, began the year in the rotation and now returns
Vs. Rocky Mountain one game/start is 0-1, lost 7-5 in Game Two of DH on 5/26
Last Appearance: 7/7 @ Oakland (3 1⁄3 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, K, ND)--started game
-was on injured list for ten days due to biceps issues after being hit by line drive 6/9 @ Oakland
-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; first generation American
-mother was born in Cuba and father is native to Colombia

HIGH WHEELERS POSITION PLAYERS
2 KIRKLAND BANKS Last Game: DNP (yet to appear in series) Hit Streak: Three Games (4-9)
-was 7-19 in six games vs. Oakland (.368); Grand Slam on 7/7 at OAK; homers in last two games @ OAK
-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: 1-4; R; BB; SB Hit Streak: Two Games (3-7)
-streak of 28 straight games reaching base safely came to an end Thursday vs. RM; was 0-1 as pinch hitter
-five game hit streak snapped Thursday vs. Rocky Mountain (9-21, .429); five RBI's 7/6 @ OAK
-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: 2-5; R; 2 RBI's Hit Streak: One Game (2-5)
-seven-game hit streak snapped other day, was 11-31 (.355); four RBI's this series
-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: 3-4; HR; RBI Hit Streak: Three Games (7-11)
-second three-hit game of series yesterday (eighth homer); four three-hit games this season
-nine hits in 20 AB's this series (.450)
-started five run-producing rallies this series with leadoff hit which has led to combined 22 runs
-homered two straight games 7/3-7/4 (seven this season, five round trippers vs. Oakland)
-first pro Grand Slam on 6/21 vs. OAK; 9-21(.429) in last series vs. Oakland (6/18-23) .
-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: 2-3; BB; R Hit Streak: Two Games (3-5)
-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; 2 RBI's Hit Streak: Two Games (4-7)
-six hits in 21 AB's in this series (.286); four four-hit games this season
-tied for team-high in homers with Jose Gonzalez with nine
-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: 1-1; RBI Hit Streak: One Game (1-1)
-came through with two-run double in second inning in Game Two on 7/10; first hit with Yolo
-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: 1-5; HR; 2 RBI's Hit Streak: Five Games (7-16)
-hit safely in all five games for Yolo; has at least one RBI (eight overall) in every game
-first pro homer was G2 of doubleheader on 7/10 (two-run clout); second homer yesterday in sixth inning
-through five games has been HBP three times including w/bases loaded in G1 on 7/10
-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: 3-5; 2B; R Hit Streak: Six Games (9-19)
-reached base safely in his last 19 straight games; seventh game of at least three hits yesterday
-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: 3-5; HR; 2 R; RBI Hit Streak: Four Games (8-16)
-snapped 0-15 drought 7/10 in G1, 6th inning bunt single; third HR of season yesterday
-two three-hit games this year; third three hit-game this year
-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: One Game (1-4)
-six hits in last 55 AB's (.109); snapped 0-21 slump Thursday with second inning 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: 1-3; BB; R Hit Streak: Six Games (9-22)
-first homer as a High Wheeler other day; solo in fourth inning
-current six-game hitting streak is his longest this year, is 9-22, .409 during stretch
-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: 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): (2-1, 12 1⁄3 IP, 6 BB, 12 K, 5 R, 5 ER, SV, 3.65)
10 NOAH ESTRELLA Last Appearance: 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One) (1 IP, BB, K, W)
-signed from Pioneer League tryout camp in Arizona; first pro win on 7/10 (G1) with scoreless sixth
-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: 7/13 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, H)
-winning pitcher 7/6 @ Oakland upping record to 5-1; most wins on the team; two SHO IP this series
-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

25 TY BUCKNER Last Appearance: 7/11 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, K)
-first loss of the season this past Thursday allowing two ninth inning runs
-notched team-high fourth save in first game of this series, 7/9 with scoreless ninth
-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: 8/18/2023 with ACL Dodgers vs. ACL White Sox (2 IP, H, BB)
-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: 7/11 vs. Rocky Mountain (2 IP, H, R, ER, BB, K)
-nine earned runs over last five 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: 7/12 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, H, K)
-two appearances this series: 1-0; 3 1⁄3 shutout innings with five strikeouts; eight K's in four 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; seven strikeouts over last three outings
-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: 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game Two) (1 IP, H, BB, K)
-third save of the season on 7/6 @ OAK with perfect ninth inning
-struggled in two prior outings (both vs. Oakland) six runs (all earned) in two innings, nine hits
-earned first win of the season 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); much of youth spent in Las Vegas

TEAM GAME HIGHS
Runs: 19 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Runs Allowed 14 7/7 @ Oakland
Hits: 21 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Hits Allowed: 17 7/6 @ Oakland
Home Runs 5 6/8 @ Oakland
Errors: 3 4X last: 7/3 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 Accomplished Twice last: Bobby Lada 6/29 @ Idaho Falls
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 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 3X last: 7/13 Ben Ferrer vs. Rocky Mountain
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 (28), Minzey (15), Niemann (2)
1B Gonzalez (18), Figueredo (10), Kuchinski (6), Blackford (4), Minzy (4), Niemann (3)
2B Lada (27), Banks (12), Guerra (2), Epp (2), Marine (2)
3B Blackford (22), Banks (16), Epp (3), Kuchinski (2), Leslie (2)
SS Marine (34), Lada (11)
LF Kirby (15), Gonzalez (13), Smith (9), Banks (4), Blackford (2), Guerra (2)
CF Skinner (38), Guerra (7)
RF Smith (26), Kirby (11), Guerra (6), Gonzalez (2)
DH Kuchinski (9), Gonzalez (6), Blackford (5), Marine (5), Figueredo (4), Lada (4), Skinner (4), Smith (3),
Banks (2), Minzey (2), Kirby (1)

STARTING BATTING ORDER
1—Skinner (39), Marine (6)
2—Marine (32), Lada (10), Smith (3)
3–Lada (27), Blackford (8), Smith (3), Gonzalez (2), Minzy (2), Banks (2), Kuchinski (1))
4-Gonzalez (30), Kuchinksi (10), Blackford (4), Niemann (1)
5-Figueredo (12), Blackford (8), Banks (5), Gonzalez (5), Smith (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), Skinner (1)
7—Kirby (13), Smith (13), Banks (10), Lada (3), Minzey (2), Blackford (1), Guerra (1), Mendoza (1), Skinner (1)
8—Banks (13), Guerra (9), Minzey (6), Smith (5), Kirby (4), Epp (2), Leslie (2), Mendoza (2), Blackford (1), Skinner (1)
9–Mendoza (25), Minzey (8), Guerra (7), Epp (2), Banks (1), Gonzalez (1), Niemann (1)