Mustangs play solid to beat Boys Ranch

The Mustangs traveled to Boys Ranch yesterday to take on the Rough Riders. It was windy out, but Boys Ranch's field sits in a hole so the wind was not a huge factor in the game. The first didn't start out great for the Mustangs at the plate. Two strikeouts had the first two outs of the game. Tate Wilkerson hit a single to left to get on, but another strikeout retired the side. Austin Miller started on the mound with Manny Monteiro behind the plate. The Mustangs got three up three down. Outs came courtesy of a fly out caught by Brady Miller, a pop up caught by Wilkerson, and a strikeout from A. Miller. The top of the second started with a pop up caught by the short stop. Seth Skarke and Jeffrey Tyree both drew a base on balls to have two on. They were left stranded by a strikeout and a put out from the pitcher. A. Miller started the bottom of the second with a strikeout. The next batter took a hit by pitch. On a fielder's choice, Tyler Peden made the force out at second to have two outs. A walk allowed another batter to reach, but A. Miller left the runners where they were getting a strikeout. Monteiro started the to of the third with a single in the infield. Peden hit into a fielder's choice that had him out at first. Wilkerson hit another single to short center to have runners on the corners. A strikeout got out number two. Bradley Cornell then rocked a single to left to score Monteiro and Wilkerson. It probably would have been a double but Coach Watts noticed that Cornell had missed first base and he wisely called him back. A put out by the third baseman retired the side. A. Miller started with a strikeout in the bottom of the third. A walk got the next batter on. On an error to pick off the runner, the runner advanced to third. On a fielder's choice, Wilkerson made a put out to Skarke, but a run scored. A fly out caught by B. Miller ended the inning. A strikeout started the top of the fourth. An error allowed Hughes to reach the bases. Another strikeout got out number two. Monteiro hit a single to right to score Hughes. The right fielder tried to throw out Hughes at home, so Monteiro tried to take second. He was thrown out by the catcher at second for out number three. A hit by pitch got a batter on in the bottom of the fourth. The runner tried to steal second, but Monteiro threw him out on a throw to Peden. A walk got a runner on. The next batter hit a line drive that Skarke reached up and snagged. Skarke then stepped on his base for the double play. The Mustangs didn't get anything going in the top of the fifth. A put out, a fly out, and a strikeout sent the Mustangs back on the field. The Mustangs had another three up, three down inning. A. Miller made a put out to Skarke, which he followed with two strikeouts to end the inning. The top of the sixth started with Cornell getting robbed of a hit when the short stop made a diving catch. Skarke hit a single to left. Brandon Nichols came into the game and hit a single to right. On some confusion by the Rough Riders, Skarke was able to steal home. Hughes then hit a single to center to score Nichols. B. Miller put the bunt down and ran out the throw for a single. Monteiro hit into a fielder's choice that had Hughes out at third. Peden drew a base on balls to load the bases. B. Miller went home on a passed ball, followed by Monteiro who also scored on a passed ball. Boys Ranch made a pitching change that was followed with a strikeout to retire the sides. A fly out to B. Miller started the bottom of the sixth. A walk put a batter on the bases, before A. Miller came back with two strikeouts to end the inning. To start the top of the seventh, A. Miller drew a walk to get on the bags. Cornell came to the plate and hit a double to left to score A. Miller. Skarke hit into a fielder's choice, but Cornell was able to score. A strikeout and a put out took us to the bottom of the seventh. A hard grounder was hit into right field, that usually results in a single. However, Nichols made a great play coming in hard and making the throw to Skarke to throw out the batter at first. It was awesome! I though Coach Green was going to run out to right and hug him. Cornell made the next out on a throw to Skarke. An error allowed the next batter to get on, before A. Miller ended the game on a strikeout. The Mustangs won 9-1. The boys played a great game pretty much all the way around. A. Miller went the distance throwing a complete game and a no-hitter! He had nine strikeouts on the day. Outstanding job Austin. The Mustangs hit pretty well, with Cornell hitting a double in the game. The Mustangs will next be in action on April 19 in Stinnett against West Texas High. Good luck guys!!!