The Sundown Roughnecks squared off with the New Deal Lions in the Bi-District Round of the 2A Division 1 baseball playoffs this past Wednesday and Thursday, resulting in the Roughnecks being swept in the best-of-three series.
Game one took place in Sundown, and New Deal secured a 17-3 win across six innings. New Deal scored two runs in the first inning, both teams scored two runs in the third inning, New Deal scored two runs in the fourth inning and Sundown scored a run in the fifth in ning before New Deal added 11 runs in the sixth inning to secure the run-rule win.
In the team statistics, the Lions bested the Roughnecks 17-7 in hits, 4-1 in walks and 2-8 in errors committed.
Sundown’s standouts at the plate in game one included Rian Rose going 1/3 with two runs-batted-in, Ollen Pearson going 2/3 with an RBI, Ryland Baldwin going 2/2 with a run scored, a walk and a stolen base, Marco Landa going 1/3 with a run scored and Athan Peralez going 1/2 with a run scored.
On the mound in game one, Rose pitched 5.1 innings, surrendering eight earned runs on 13 hits and three walks while striking out two batters. He’d be relieved by Joey Lopez, who pitched 0.2 innings, surrendering three earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out a batter.
Game two took place in New Deal, and the Lions completed the sweep with a 9-4 win across seven innings.
New Deal led 4-0 after two innings, and Sundown would respond with three runs in the third inning. New Deal would add five more in the fourth inning, and Sundown would respond with a run in the sixth inning to no avail.
In the team statistics, New Deal bested Sundown 11-6 in hits and 0-2 in errors committed, and both teams had four walks apiece.
The Roughnecks standouts at the plate included Rose going 1/3 with three RBIs, a run scored and a home run, Jaxon Reynolds going 2/3 with an RBI and a double, Gordon Mata going ½ with a run scored, a walk and a stolen base, and Peralez going ½ with a run scored and a walk.
Landa pitched all of game two, surrendering six earned runs on 11 hits and four walks while striking out a batter.
The pair of losses eliminates Sundown from the postseason, concluding their season at 11-14 overall, which Sundown Head Baseball Coach Matthew Scho- vajsa reflected on.
“I just told them how proud I was of them, and the fight they showed all season.
We could have easily given up on this season when we were 1-7 in district, and instead they dug their heels in and clawed our way all the way back to third place,” Coach Schovajsa said. “I’m really proud of how they showed up ready to go to work every day, and thankful for our seniors for laying the foundation for the future.”