YHS Bulldog Baseball Team loses district games

After some early hits and runs against Columbus, Yoakum’s defense settled in and got to work; it was the offense that struggled.

Columbus got nine hits and four runs in the first two innings but for the remaining five innings scored just one more run on four hits to defeat Yoakum 5-0 on March 19. Columbus pitcher Kaleb Kuhn shut out the ‘Dogs with two hits, one batter hit and striking out 11 batters.

“Kaleb Kuhn’s pitching kept us off balance and we could not get anything going at the plate,” Bulldogs head coach Karl Saenz said. “We had a hard time getting anybody on base and when someone did get on base, we were unable to get a timely hit. Just have to tip your hat to a good pitcher like that.”

Yoakum has still plenty of play for and will look to bounce back with plenty of effort in practice and upcoming games.

“We have to work hard because every single game is a big one for us,” Saenz said. “Any given night, anybody can win in this district. We just have to keep working.”

In the top of the first, Lane Kulhanek got a one-out, infield single; Dylan Zajicek and Trevor Berger got a single to load the bases. Brody Tribe put down a hit into center field to score Kulhanek and Zajicek was thrown out at third as Brett Lerch fielded a pass from Qyion Williams for the out.

The second inning proved to be good for the Cardinals. Ayden Carter got a leadoff single; Ryan Carter got a hit and Kulhanek posted a hit to score Ayden Carter.

Ryan Carter scored on the RBI single by Zajicek; Berger got a hit and a sacrifice fly ball to center by Tribe sent Kulhanek home for a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, Yoakum ended Kuhn’s no hitter with a two-out single by Bryce Mercer. Both teams went in order in the third and fourth innings.

The Cardinals got two hits in the fifth frame but scored no runs; Yoakum got a base runner in Mercer who reached on an error and his runner, Bradley Jacob, went to second on an error on his steal attempt.

Yoakum had runners in scoring positions in the bottom of the sixth when Brenten Jacob was hit by the pitch and later took second on an error. He advanced to third on a single by Garrett Green. Both were left stranded when Columbus rallied for two straight outs.

Columbus added the fifth run in the seventh when Berger singled and scored on a hit by Britton Wolters.

Yoakum hitting/base running: Garrett Green, 1-3, 1 stolen base; Bryce Mercer, 1-3.

Yoakum pitching: Wyatt Hanzelka, 7 IP, 13 hits, 5 runs, 1 batter hit, 2K.

Yoakum fielding/defense: Brenten Jacob, 9 putouts; Brett Lerch, 3 putouts, 4 assists; Qyion Williams, 3 putouts, 1 assist; Andrew Lara, 2 putouts; Hanzelka, 1 putout, 1 assist; Jamar Hopkins, 1 putout; Ty Gordon, 2 assists; Trae Cuellar, 2 assists.

COLUMBUS 5, YOAKUM 0

C: Kaleb Kuhn and Britton Wolters. Y: Wyatt Hanzelka and Bryce Mercer. W: Kuhn. L: Hanzelka.

PALACIOS 7, YOAKUM 1

The Palacios Sharks scored five runs in the second inning to beat Yoakum 7-1 on March 22. Both teams scored one run in the fifth and Palacios added a run in the sixth inning.

Brenten Jacob started the mound, going two innings, four hits, five runs, three walks and a strikeout. Ty Gordon worked four innings with four hits, two runs, two walks and seven strikeouts.

Trae Cuellar went 2-for-3 and Brett Lerch was 1-for-3 with one run scored.

Garrett Green and Sutton Pavliska each got two putouts in the field.

Yoakum hitting/base running: Trae Cuellar, 2-3, 1 stolen base; Brett Lerch, 1-3, 1 run, 1 double; Garrett Green, 1-3; Sutton Pavliska, 1-3, Brenten Jacob, 1 stolen base.

Yoakum pitching: Jacob, 2 IP, 4 hits, 5 runs, 1 batter hit, 3 walks, 1K; Ty Gordon, 4 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 7K.

Yoakum fielding/defense: Pavliska, 2 putouts; Green, 2 putouts; Jacob, 1 putout, 1 assist; Jamar Hopkins, 1 putout; Gordon, 1 putout; Bryce Mercer, 1 putout; Cuellar, 1 putout; Braden Berger, 1 assist.