Yoemen end season in regional semifinal
The Cameron Yoemen baseball season came to an end at the hands of the Diboll Lumberjacks on Saturday in Game 3 of the regional semifinalts.
They were defeated in the series 2-1.
Game 1 was on Thursday, and Cameron lost to Diboll 7-5 to fall in the series 1-0. In Game 2 the Yoemen came back to defeat Diboll 6-2 to keep their playoff hopes alive in Game 3. The Yoemen dropped Game 3 4-1 to the Lumberjacks.
Diboll got things started in the first inning on Game 1 when they hit a single, scoring one run. That was followed by a two-run single to put Cameron in a 3-0 deficit. The Yoemen responded in the bottom of the first inning with a two run double by Brannon McCall on a line drive to left field making the score 3-2.
The Lumberjacks extended their lead to 5-2 in the top of the second inning on a double and an RBI groundout. The Yoemen bounced back with a run in the bottom of the second inning on a double by Tracer Lopez to make the score 5-3.
Cameron evened things up a five in the fifth inning when Ryan Host and Marino Cardona hit back-to-back RBI groundouts. Cameron stayed in it until the end, but Diboll pulled away late in the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead. The runs came off a double on a line drive to center field, scoring the two runs.
Brannon McCall took the loss on the mound for Cameron. He allowed seven hits and seven runs over six innings, striking out five. The Yoemen lost despite out-hitting Diboll eight to seven Brannon McCall, Jaidyn Sanchez, and Landen Greene each had multiple hits for Cameron. Greene, Sanchez, and McCall each collected two hits to lead the team.
Cameron came back on Saturday for Game 2 and defeated Diboll 6-2 to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Yoemen got on the board in the first inning jumping out to a 4-0 lead. They scored all those runs when Dillan Akin belted the ball out of the park for a grand slam.
“Dillan was able to work the count and took advantage of a mistake made by Diboll’s pitcher,” Coach Hector Delgadillo said. “That was some clutch hitting from Dillan.”
The Lumberjacks scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, but Cameron answered back in the bottom of the third inning with a single by Sanchez to make the score 5-1.
The Yoemen scored another run in the top of the sixth inning when Akin hit a line drive double to right field to make the lead 6-1. Diboll scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning but Cameron sealed the game to force a game 3.
Greene was credited the victory for Cameron. He pitched a gem as he lasted all six innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out six.
“Landen had his off-speed pitches working which help keep Diboll off balanc,” Delgadillo said. “Landen competed well for us in Game 2 and gave us a chance.”
Tracer Lopez threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen to secure the win.
The Yoemen totaled 11 hits in the game. Lopez, Borgas, and Akin all collected multiple hits for Cameron. Borgas and Lopez each collected three hits to lead the team. Cameron’s base running was also sharp. They stole six bases during the game as two players stole more than one, Lopez led the way with two.
Game 3 was played later that day. Cameron watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 4-1 loss to bring their great season to an end. Diboll got things started in the second inning. The Lumberjacks scored on a single, a groundout, a double, and errors committed by Cameron for a 3-0 lead over the Yoemen. Cameron scored a run in the third inning on a double by Lopez, but it would not be enough as they would eventually lose 4-1. The Yoemen only collected three hits in the game in large part due to the dominance of the Diboll pitcher.
“Their pitcher in Game 3 pitched very well,” Delgadillo said. “He did a good job of mixing his Fastball and slider. Kept our kids guessing and off balance.”
Ryan Host took the loss on the mound for Cameron. He surrendered three runs on four hits over two innings, walking one. Tracer Lopez came in relief and kept Cameron in the game. He allowed one run on two hits, striking out three and allowing no walks, all in four solid innings.
“I was very impressed,” Dellgadillo said. “He hadn’t thrown that many pitches for us this season. But after that third inning, Tracer asked for the ball. I was going to say no. He’s a competitor and gave us the best chance to win Game 3.”
The end of this game and this series was more emotional than a usual playoff exit. This will also be Delgadillo’s last season with the Yoemen. He shares a final message to the players and to the community.
“Not the way we had hoped our season would end but at least you left it all on the field,” Delgadillo said. “I enjoyed the ride and I can’t thank you enough for your years of hard work and commitment to Yoe baseball. We won, we lost and we battled together. Although we did not finish the job, most importantly I hope that you are able to enjoy and cherish these memories for a lifetime!! It has been my pleasure and honor serving as your coach for these last five seasons.”
“To the baseball community, thank you, parents and Yoe Baseball fans, for all the love and support this season,” he said. “You are the real MVPs. The friendship, memories and relationship with the kids have been something that I’ll forever cherish. I’d like to thank once again Coach Brashear, Coach Sapp, Wendy Mahan, James Henderson and Pete Magre for giving me the opportunity to coach and teach at Cameron!! Once a Yoemen, Always A Yoemen!!”