The Smyer Bobcats hosted the Morton Indians for a district baseball matchup this past Wednesday night, resulting in the Bobcats earning a 13-10 win to strengthen their playoff push.
Smyer came out hot, outscoring Morton 4-1 in the first inning, which Morton would respond to by outscoring them 1-0 in the second inning and 6-5 in the third inning. The two teams tied 1-1 in the fourth inning, and Morton added a run in the fifth inning before Smyer secured the victory by winning the seventh inning 3-0.
In the team statistics, the Bobcats bested the Indians 10-6 in hits and 3-4 in errors committed while the Indians bested them 8-7 in walks.
Smyer’s standouts at the plate included center fielder Tango Pastusek going 2/4 with three runs-batted-in, a run scored, a double and a walk, first baseman Austin Martinez going 2/4 with two RBI’s, a run scored and a stolen base, third baseman Skyler Pond going 2/5 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk, shortstop Ryann Gutierrez going ¼ with two runs scored, an RBI, a double and a walk, catcher Colton Burriss going ½ with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk, left fielder Cash Pastusek going ½ with two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base, and Caleb Pearce going ½ with three runs scored, two stolen bases and a walk.
On the mound for the Bobcats, Pearce pitched 2.1 innings, surrendering eight earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three batters. He was followed by Pond, who pitched 2.1 innings, surrendering one earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out two batters, and Burriss who pitched a scoreless 2.1 innings while striking out seven batters.
Morton’s standouts at the plate included EJ Rivas going 2/4 with four stolen bases, three RBI’s, two doubles and a run scored, catcher Jaeden Alvarado going 1/3 with two RBI’s and a run scored, first baseman Hez Silvas going ¼ with two RBI’s, a run scored and a double, left fielder Brayden Villarreal going ½ with two runs scored and two walks, center fielder Jesus Aguirre going 1/3 with a run scored, and shortstop Britton Boggs with two runs scored, two walks and two stolen bases.
On the mound for the Indians, Rivas pitched 2.1 innings, surrendering eight earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four batters. He was followed by Boggs, who recorded two outs and a strikeout, then Alvarado, who pitched 3.1 innings, surrendering four earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three batters, and lastly, Villarreal, who recorded two outs.
The win improves the Bobcats to 8-12 overall and 5-6 in district play, while the loss drops the Indians to 3-16 overall and 3-8 in district play.
The Bobcats are currently in the top four of the 2A District 4 baseball standings while Morton sits in seventh. Their second matchup against each other over the weekend will mark one of the final three for both programs, all of which will be crucial in the playoff chase.