Yoemen defeat Elkhart, set for Lorena in next round
The Cameron Yoemen baseball team faced off against the Elkhart Elks this weekend in a three-game playoff series winning two games to remain in playoff action. They will face Lorena in Salado on Friday and Saturday in the next round of the playoffs.
Game one was on Friday at Elkhart where Cameron shutout the Elks 9-0 in large part due to Brannon McCall (6) who threw seven shutout innings in a dominating pitching performance to lead the Yoemen to victory.
Cameron started things very early by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. The first inning got started with a single by Ryan Host (10) and a one out walk by Landon Greene (9). The first run came off of an RBI (runs batted in) single by Dillan Akin (4) to left field, scoring Host. After Adam Cardona (1) reached first base to load the bases later that inning, McCall brought in the second run of the inning with a bases loaded walk.
The lead for the Yoemen blew open as a result to Cameron scoring six runs in the top of the fifth inning. The big inning got started with a leadoff single by Akin then a powerful home run by Marino Cardona to double the lead 4-0. The scoring continued with a one out bases loaded walk by Tracer Lopez (3), followed by two consecutive RBI doubles by Greene and Akin to make the lead 8-0.
The final run for the Yoemen would come in the top of the sixth inning when Bobby Borgas (7) followed up a single by Jaidyn Sanchez (11) with an RBI single to left field for a 9-0 lead.
McCall led the Yoemen to victory on the mound. He held the Elks to zero runs on three hits over seven innings, striking out ten. The Yoemen defense was also very stout backing up their pitching as they had a clean game without committing an error.
Cameron played game two at the Yards of Cameron on Saturday where they defeated Elkhart 10-1 to win the series.
Landon Greene pitched a shutout first inning. Greene tried to start a two out rally in the bottom of the first inning with a walk but did not score as the inning ended on a strikeout. Greene returned to the mound in the top of the second inning and got into a jam allowing a two out base runner off a throwing error. Luckily, Greene got out of it with a groundout to third.
Marino Cardona (15) started the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff bloop single. He advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Cardona (1). McCall (6) reached first on a sacrifice bunt attempt as the catcher made a throwing error, allowing him to reach first base. He then stole second base.
Cameron got on the scoreboard with a clutch two RBI single by Borgas (7) up the middle with two outs for a 2-0 lead, bringing McCall and Marino Cardona home. The bottom of the second inning ended on a strikeout. Greene came to the mound and hit a one out batter in the top of the third inning.
After allowing a runner to reach first base the top of the third inning ended on a double play started by Greene catching a ground ball and throwing it to second base, where Host threw it to first base. Host (10) led off the bottom of the third inning with a walk for the Yoemen, which was followed by a single for Greene, and Armando Reyes (2) came in as the pinch runner. Akin (4) reached first on a fielder’s choice by way of a bunt, Kason Goolsby (14) came in as the pinch runner for Akin. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch, bringing the runners to second and third base.
Cameron didn’t get the runners home in the bottom of the third inning as it would end on a lineout to first base. Greene allowed a leadoff single in the top of the fourth inning. He allowed a run on an infield single to tighten the game at 2-1. The top of the fourth inning eventually ended with a timely double play. After the double play, Coach Hector Delgadillo had a pep talk with the team to get them refocused and rallied the team.
“We just told them don’t press, just look to make the out,” Delgadillo said. “Just make sure to field the ball and throw the ball. I told them to relax. I think they were indecisive at times, again it's things that we haven’t seen a whole lot of until the playoffs. I just told them to relax, and just take the out where it's given, don't try to force anything.”
McCall came to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning crushed a leadoff double. He reached third base on a sacrifice bunt by Sanchez (11). McCall came home on a failed base throwing attempt to first base for a 3-1 lead. Host hit a two out single then stole second base.
The bottom of the fourth inning ended on a groundout, keeping the score 3-1. Delgadillo’s pep talk seemed to do the trick as Greene pitched a clean fifth inning behind a strong and focused defense. Akin hit a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth inning, Goolsby came in for him as the pinch runner and stole third base.
Cameron would add to the lead with an RBI double by Marino Cardona for a 4-1 lead. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Marino Cardona advanced home on a well-executed RBI sacrifice bunt by McCall for a 5-1 game.
The bottom of the fifth inning would end on a strikeout. Greene allowed a leadoff single to left field in the top of the sixth inning. No damage was done as he masterfully got out of the inning with three straight outs. The bottom of the sixth inning started with a leadoff single for Lopez (3). Host would be hit by a pitch and advance to first base.
Akin would also be hit by a pitch one out later. Lopez would score on an RBI single by Marino Cardona to grow the lead to 6-1. The offensive explosion continued with an RBI bases clearing triple to centerfield for Adam Cardona to expand the lead 9-1. Cameron would keep it up with an RBI fielder’s choice by Sanchez for a 10-1 game. The bottom of the inning ended on a line out to center field.
“We were able to put the bat on the ball and that was huge,” Delgadillo said. “We were able to put a few hits together. Like coach said it was good to see two hits, three hits, just kind of back to back to back, and that was able to get our offense going and get everybody more confidence at the plate. Obviously, base runners are always huge. If you have baserunners and get a hit, that can score you a couple runs so that's always good.”
In the top of the seventh inning, Greene would allow a two out walk but forced a pop out to secure Cameron’s 10-1victory and the series sweep. Landon had a spectacular performance and was a main catalyst behind the win, allowing just one run on one hit, allowed only two walks, and only needed 82 pitches.
“Landon has been pretty consistent,” Delgadillo said. “I think that's been the biggest thing is the consistency through his outings. His fastball and curveball always seem to be his two best pitches he throws for strikes. He was throwing strikes, mixing pitches well throughout the game.”
Cameron’s next playoff opponent will be against the Lorena Leopards this weekend. All of the games will be played at Salado High School and game one will be on Friday at 7 p.m. Game two will be on Saturday at 1 p.m., and game three (if needed) will be 30 minutes after game two.