Yoemen pick up two wins to set up primetime match up with Rogers

Heading into this past week's baseball action, the Yoemen knew they were in position for a playoff spot.  However, the sights are set much higher than that at this point as a district championship is well within reach.  With a 6-5 win over Franklin on Friday, followed up with a 8-5 win over Lexington at home on Monday, that mark was still well within reach with a showdown with district-leading Rogers on the horizon. 

Franklin (W 6-5)

It took nine innings, but at this point of the season wins are all that matter in Cameron's dramatic one-run win over the Lions.  The Yoemen, which trailed by a lone run entering the top of the seventh, scored one to tie it up before eventually winning the game in extra innings. 

"Our guys fought through a lot of adversity," said Yoemen head coach John Broussard following the win.  "We had calls not go our way pretty much the whole game.  I don't like to touch on stuff like that, but our guys were emotional, fought through it,  and got the win.  It was a complete win from everyone."

In the seventh, leadoff man Zack Andress singled on a ground ball to center field to open the inning.  A wild pitch followed by a sacrifice bunt by Jason Llanas had Andress at third with just one out.  Bryce Welsh eventually struck out for the second out, but during Jordan Young's at back, another wild pitch on a 2-1 count allowed for the tying run to cross home plate.  

In the ninth, similar circumstances led to the run.  Welsh began things by reaching on an error by the shortstop.  He later took second base and moved on to third on another wild pitch.  With Young back up to the plate, the suicide squeeze was the play.  Young's bunt was placed perfectly, allowing the go-ahead and eventual winning run to score. 

"I got an outside fastball," said Young. "I didn't execute the first time in the top of the seventh.  I got another chance and sure enough, Bryce Welsh was on base and got all the way around.  I laid it down and did what I was supposed to do."

Welsh added: "When coach gave the signal, I knew Jordan was going to come through with the squeeze.  I was stealing and was not looking back, because I knew he was going to get it down."

After Yoe starter Jason Llanas was pulled due to pitch count in the seventh inning, Andress came in and threw 2.1 innings of scoreless relief while picking up the win.  

Andress was put into a tough situation as his first batter faced was with the bases loaded and two outs  The junior calmly struck out the Lion batter to retire the side. 

"When I came in, Jason had us close enough to where we could stay in this game," said Andress.  "I knew I couldn't let them score, because it would have been over.  We got guys on base and got a run home and I needed to get three outs and we did exactly that."

Llanas gave up 6 hits, walked 4, stuck out 8 and gave up 4 earned runs in his outing.  Andress gave up 3 hits, walked 0 and stuck out 3. 

Lexington (W 8-5)

Cameron used big innings in the early going in an 8-5 win over Lexington.  The Yoemen scored 2 in the first, 2 in the second and 4 in the fourth the build a commanding 8-1 lead.  

On the books, only six total hits for the Yoemen were recorded.  However, most of those came with runners on base. 

"We squared a lot of balls up tonight," said Broussard.  "I thought we swung the bats well, especially when we had guys in scoring position.  We only struck out three times.  We have been working hard on not striking out and putting the ball in play.  We did a really good job of that tonight and scored. 

The Eagles broke the ice in the top of the first, scoring on an error to third base.  The Yoemen went on to score eight unanswered.  

Keaton Hundle hit a hard single up the middle to begin the second.  After Andress was hit by a pitch and another wild pitch advanced the runners, Yoe three-hole hitter Welsh brought both home with a clutch single to right, advancing the lead to 4-1.  

A walk by Ty Moore, high, short pop single to center by Keaton Hundle, and four-pitch walk to Alonso loaded the bases in the fifth.  After a wild pitch brought in a run, leadoff man Andress helped his own cause with a double, increasing the lead to 7-1.  Llanas singled to bring in the final run of the inning.   

Andress, which saw time on the mound for the second straight game, was effective despite the runs given up.  Only one of the five runs that scored was earned.  Cameron finished with 4 errors.