Claude blasts Clarendon

     I swore that I would not fall behind with this blog, but unfortunately I did. The boys played some tough competition in the preseason. The boys won the Claude Tournament and entered district with a record of 9-4. The four losses came from all 2A teams, one that has made back to back appearances at the state tournament.

     The lovely weather we have here in the Texas Panhandle cancelled the first district game against Booker. Therefore, we played Clarendon for the fist district game of the 2013 season.

     Seth Skarke started on the mound with Bradley Cornell. The first batter reached the bases on a walk. However, he was quickly picked off from a throw from Skarke to first baseman Logan Johnson. Two more walks put the Broncos in scoring position. Skarke fought back wringing up the 4-hole for his first strikeout of the game. Another walk loaded the bases, but the Mustangs kept any runs from crossing. Skarke delivered another strikeout, with Cornell throwing down to Johnson to get the final out.
     Zach Johnson got the ball rolling, literally, with a single to right center. Tyler Peden followed with a single to center. Tate Wilkerson then took a shot to left for another single. Skarke followed suit with a single of his own to left center for the RBI scoring Z. Johnson. Cornell came to the plate and rocked a double to left center to score Peden and Wilkerson. Maison Mays drew a base on balls for his first plate appearance. L. Johnson connected for a double to center to score Skarke and Cornell. A strikeout recorded the first out for the Broncos. Bailey Morrow stepped up to the plate for an infield single to score Mays. Z. Johnson came back up and hit a fielder's choice to score L. Johnson, but Morrow was out at second. Clarendon got their third out from a hit to the pitcher. After 1, the Mustangs were up 7-0.

     Skarke came out strong in the top of the 2nd with a quick three up, three down with three strikeouts.
     Wilkerson started the bottom of the 2nd reaching on an error, and Skarke reached with a base on balls. That did it for Clarendon's first pitcher. Cornell took on the new pitcher first. Skarke was thrown at on a stolen base attempt for out 1. Cornell reached on a hit by pitch to have runners on the corners. Mays ripped a double to left to score Wilkerson and Cornell. An error by the 3rd baseman allowed L. Johnson to reach and Mays to score. Teron Webb put down a beauty of a sac bunt to advance the runner. With 2 outs the Mustangs put together a rally. Morrow stepped up and hit a single to center to score L. Johnson, and Z. Johnson hit a single to left. Peden hit a single to deep center that scored Morrow and Z. Johnson, and with an error allowed him extra bases. A single to left with a fielding error for Wilkerson allowed Peden to score. Skarke his a single to right center to knock in Wilkerson. Cornell stepped up next a blasted a triple to center to score Skarke. With Mays at the plate, Cornell tried a suicide squeeze. It looked like Cornell was safe, but the ump called him out end the inning. After two, the Mustangs were up 16-0.

     An error got the first Bronco batter on base. The next batter hit a ball at Mays who fielded it cleanly throwing out the batter at first, but Clarendon was able to get their first run across. Skarke got the next batter with a strikeout. A walk put on another runner, but Skarke came strong again for a strikeout to retire the sides.
     A pop-up got the first out in the bottom of the 3rd. A walk put L. Johnson on the bases and with a wild pitch he was able to reach 2nd. Webb put down another great bunt for an infield single, and on a lack of focus from Clarendon L. Johnson stole home. Webb was thrown out on a stolen base attempt. Morrow drew a walk to reach. A single to center from Z. Johnson scored Morrow. A fielder's choice hit by Peden had Z. Johnson tagged out. After 3, the score was 18-1.

     The first Clarendon batter reached on a single. The Mustangs didn't allow anyone else to reach with Skarke getting two more strikeouts and a put-out from Skarke to L. Johnson.
     A new pitcher started the fourth for Clarendon. Wilkerson got things going with a walk. A put out got the first out. Cornell hit his second double to score Wilkerson. Mays hit a single to right to score Cornell. L. Johnson hit a single to left to reach. Webb got on with an error that scored Mays. Two strikeouts ended the inning. Score was 21-1.

     A single to center got the first Bronco runner on in the top of the 5th. The next batter made contact which had Peden throwing out the runner going to two. The next batter reached on a walk. A ground out from Skarke to Peden had the second out and the second run for the Broncos. A ground ball field by L. Johnson recorded the final out of the game. The Mustangs won 21-2. 

Skarke had 9 strikeouts on the day. Cornell went 3 for 3 hitting 2 doubles and triple. Also hitting doubles were Mays, L. Johnson.