Sierra jumped on visiting East Union in a big way Monday, battling the wind with a Wyatt Bauer leadoff home run and seven first-inning runs on the way to an 11-1 six-inning mercy-rule Valley Oak League baseball win at Jack Thomson Stadium.
“This was the first time this year we had a start like this,” Timberwolves coach Travis Thomson said. “I think our boys worked really hard to respond after a tough week against Oakdale. Within the first batter we had a run with Bauer. He has never led off before, and I think that set the tone.
“When you lead off the game with a hard-hit ball, be it a home run or not, it kind of shows the rest of the hitters how it needs to be done. It was nice that we hit the ball around. Six of the first eight batters hit the ball – that’s a team effort right there. As a coach that’s great. That means the guys are buying in, getting the ball in play and giving us a chance to win.”
Bauer wasted little time, launching a 1-0 offering over the right-field fence.
“I wanted to take advantage of the first pitch I could,” Bauer said. “Obviously, the best pitch is a fastball, I saw it coming so I just went for it.”
The first nine batters for Sierra (3-6 VOL, 5-9 overall) reached base, with additional hits by Cameron Diego, Jayden Pimentel, Ryan Reyes, Josh Graves and Riley Kane. Kane had the second-biggest hit of the frame with a two-RBI single to left, scoring Pimentel and Reyes.
Reyes had the big bat on the day, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.
“After last week’s frustrating week against Oakdale, I definitely wanted to fire up the team,” Reyes said. “And I think we did a great job of putting bat on ball.
“That’s what I tried to do all day, just keep it simple, nothing too crazy.”
Jackson Fay (2-for-4, run) legged on an infield single to lead off the game for the Lancers (2-5, 8-9). A pair of hit batters landed him on third, and he came into score on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Brayden Camara. That was to be the extent of the East Union offense.
“We just didn’t come out ready to play,” Lancers coach Dan Bauer said. “We weren’t mentally focused, and it showed in that first inning.
“We dug a big hole and couldn’t dig our way out of it. Have to be better.”
The Timberwolves had some stellar defensive plays. With two out and the bases loaded in the top of the first, East Union’s Kirk Simoni hit a fly to right only for Graves to make a diving catch on.
With one on and two out in the top of the fourth, Randy Martinez hit a line shot over the head of Ricardo Anaya at third. Anaya skied to pull the ball down and end the Lancers inning.
The two teams meet again on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Agostini Field.
