Mustangs Fall

     The Mustangs traveled the short distance to Clarendon on Saturday, April 13, for another windy baseball game. I honestly do not know what to say about the game, other than that the Mustangs never really got going.

     Zach Johnson started the game off with a single passed the shortstop. However, a double play ball erased him from the bases. A fly out to left had the Mustangs going down 1, 2, 3.
     Tate Wilkerson started on the mound for the Mustangs with Bradley Cornell behind the plate. The Mustang defense started rough allowing the first two batters to reach on errors. A walk loaded the bases for the Broncos. Two strikeouts from Wilkerson, made it seem like the Mustangs were going to make it out unscathed, but a hit by pitch allowed the first run to score. The next batter hit a single to right that allowed two more runs to cross. A walk once again loaded the bases, but the 9-hole batter hit a pop fly that was caught by shortstop Tyler Peden for the final out. After 1 the Mustangs were down 0-3.

     In the top of the second, Seth Skarke led off and reached on an error. Cornell hit a double down the left field line to have two in scoring position. Maison Mays hit a sac fly to right to score Skarke. During the next at bat the catcher tried to pick off Cornell and made a throwing error that brought Cornell across the plate. A pop up and a fly out retired the sides before the Mustangs could get any more offense going.
     The first Bronco batter hit a ball up the right field line that had a throw out from Skarke to Wilkerson. The next batter hit a double to left, but the Mustangs stayed strong defensively. Back to back outs came courtesy of a ground out from Logan Johnson to Skarke and a strikeout from Wilkerson. The score was now 2-3.

     Bailey Morrow got things going in the top of third by reaching on an error by the right fielder. Z. Johnson got on the bags with a walk. Peden then reached on a fielder's choice that had Z. Johnson out at two. Wilkerson reached on an infield single that had the Bronco defense confused. An error during the same play allowed Morrow to score. However, trying to get an extra base, Peden was thrown out at third. Skarke then hit a single right up the middle to get a runner in scoring position, but another fly out ended any sort of run for the Mustangs.
     A hit by pitch started the bottom of the third. A pop up caught by Peden got the first out. Two walks  loaded the bases once again for the Broncos. The Mustangs fought back with a rare 4-2-3 double play by L. Johnson, Cornell, and Skarke to get out of the jam. After the three the score was tied at 3 all.

     Mays hit a nice line drive to right for a double to begin the top of the fourth, but no one could get anything going behind him. A ground out and two strikeouts quickly ended the inning.
     The first Bronco batter got on with a single to right. A strikeout got the first out for the Mustangs. An error then allowed the next batter on. The lead runner tried to get to home off of the error, but a head's up play by Skarke had the runner out at home from a throw to Cornell. Three passed balls and a walk allowed another run to score. A pop up caught by Skarke ended the fourth with Mustangs down 3-4.

     A groundout got the first out of the fifth inning. Peden hit a line drive single to right to reach. Wilkerson got on with a hit by pitch. A single to left center by Skarke scored Peden. Cornell then laid down a sac bunt to move two runners into scoring position, but a ground out stopped the Mustangs from getting anymore across.
     A single lead off hit had the first batter. The runner was completely blind sided as he was quickly picked off on a throw from Wilkerson to Skarke. Two ground outs got the next two outs courtesy of Mays, L. Johnson, and Peden. After 5, the was knotted again at 4.

     The Mustangs couldn't get anything going in the top of the sixth. They went down 1, 2, 3 in 7 pitches. Two on fly balls and one a ball hit at the first baseman.
     L. Johnson made the first out of the game with a snagged line drive hit by the first batter. Back to back errors had two Bronco batters reaching with one crossing the plate. Skarke took over on the mound. A passed ball allowed a second run to score for Clarendon. A pop up caught by L. Johnson got the second out, and a strikeout from Skarke got the final out. Mustangs were down 4-6.

     The Mustangs were down to their final at bat. Z. Johnson was able to reach on an error by the second baseman. However, two ground outs and a fly out ended the game. The Mustangs lost 4-6.

Wilkerson had 4 strikeouts on the day and Skarke had one. Hitting doubles for the Mustangs were Cornell and Mays. The Mustangs now sit tied for 2nd with a district record of 5-2.