The Smyer Bobcats hosted the Sundown Roughnecks for the second game of their district baseball series this past Saturday morning, and after the Roughnecks won a thriller in the first matchup, they were able to earn the series sweep with a 16-10 win over the Bobcats.
Smyer came out strong, taking a 5-2 lead in the first inning. Sundown would add a run in the fourth inning before outscoring Smyer 10-2 in the fifth inning. That would be the differencemaking inning, as the two teams tied 3-3 in the final two frames, securing Sundown’s victory.
In the team statistics, the Roughnecks bested the Bobcats 8-5 in hits and 4-5 in errors committed, while the Bobcats bested them 18-14 in walks drawn.
The win improves Sundown to 7-12 overall and 3-7 in district play, which ties them for sixth in the 2A District 4 baseball standings.
“I’m really proud of the resilience that guys showed this week; we had to come back in both games,” Sundown Head Baseball Coach Matthew Schovajsa said. “That was a big series to win both games for our playoff chances. It was also the first time we didn’t split the series with Smyer in four years.”
Sundown’s standouts at the plate in the big win included designated hitter Andrew Rodriguez going ½ with three runs-battedin, two walks, two stolen bases and a run scored, right fielder Athan Peralez going 2/4 with three runs scored, two RBI’s and a walk, third baseman Ollen Pearson going ¼ with two RBI’s and a walk, and Joey Lopez with two RBI’s, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base.
Others included first baseman Jaxon Reynolds going ½ with three walks, two runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI, shortstop Ryland Baldwin going 2/4 with an RBI, a run scored, a double and a walk, and center fielder Braiden Lara with three walks and two runs scored.
On the mound for the Roughnecks, Lopez pitched 3.1 innings, surrendering three earned runs on two hits and six walks while striking out two batters. He was followed by Baldwin, who pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering two earned runs on a hit and five walks while striking out two batters, and Cooper Day who pitched 2.1 innings, surrendering three earned runs on two hits and seven walks while striking out two batters.
Standouts at the plate for the Bobcats included right fielder D Paredez with three stolen bases, two RBI’s, two runs scored and two walks, Austin Martinez going 1/3 with two runs scored, two walks and an RBI, shortstop Ryann Gutierrez going 1/1 with four walks, two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored, and second baseman C Pastusek going ½ with three walks.
Others included left fielder Skyler Pond with an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base, and first baseman Caleb Pearce with an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base.
On the mound for the Bobcats, Martinez pitched the bulk, tossing four innings and surrendering six earned runs on three hits and eight walks while striking out four batters. He would be followed by Pearce, who pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering five earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out two batters, and Gutierrez who pitched 1.2 innings, surrendering one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two batters.
The loss drops the Bobcats to 7-12 overall and 4-6 in district play, which ties them for fourth in the 2A District 4 baseball standings.
Following the series, Smyer kicks off a new one with Morton and Sundown kicks off one with Post.
Both teams play their first matchup early in the week and then on Saturday at 11 a.m. On Saturday, Sundown hosts Post and Smyer hosts Morton.