Yoe baseball defeats Franklin in comeback game at tournament
The Cameron Yoemen baseball team played in an in-season tournament hosted by Franklin over the weekend.
They played their first three games on Thursday, going 2-1 in those games. They defeated Navasota 6-3, then beat Teague 16-2, then fell short against Bay Area Christian 4-2.
This would put them in the second place bracket where they would face the Franklin Lions. Cameron defeated Franklin 13-11in a wild and crazy comeback game.
In the top of the first inning, Dillan Akin (4) hit a single and was thrown out at second trying to get to second base but helped Esteban Montez (12) advance to third base. Unfortunately, the Yoemen couldn’t bring him home and failed to score.
Then Yoemen pitcher, Landon Greene (9), allowed a leadoff single. The runner was caught stealing second base. Cameron gave up a run on a throw to home, then gave up a second run on a fielding error. Greene gave up two more runs on a line drive to left field, making the score 4-0.
Franklin piled it on with a fifth run on an RBI groundout. The Lions proceeded to score a sixth run on a base hit. The bottom of the first inning finally came to an end on a groundout.
Going into the second inning, Adam Cardona (1) hit a leadoff single, then advanced to second base then third base on multiple throwing errors. Bobby Borgas (7) would then be hit by a pitch.
The Cameron offense failed to bring them home in the top of the second inning, leaving the score 6-0.
Greene pitched a shutout second inning.
Then the Yomen came to bat and had a leadoff walk by Ryan Host (10). Greene reached first on a fielder’s choice, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cameron got on the scoreboard with an RBI (runs batted in) double by Brannon McCall (6) for the first run. They couldn’t score any more runs as the top of the third inning ended on a strikeout. Greene pitched a clean shutout third inning for his second straight shutout inning.
“I was impressed,” Coach Hector Delgadillo said. “Landon pitched great. Didn’t have his best stuff today but he was able to keep the game within reason. We just didn’t help him out defensively today.”
Cameron started to show some life in the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff triple by Braylan Drake (13), who later advanced to home plate on a wild pitch to make the score 6-2. Armando Reyes (2) would be hit by a pitch, then Greene reached first base with a walk. Akin made the score 6-3 on an RBI groundout.
Delgadillo made a pitching change in the fourth inning. Adam Cardona came in to pitch for Greene. He allowed a run off a fielding error, then gave up a base clearing triple for a 9-3 Franklin lead. Franklin scored their tenth run on wild pitch, then scored their eleventh run of the game on a fielding error. The inning finally came to an end on an infield pop out to Host.
“Yes, our kids knew we had plenty of baseball left,” Delgadillo said. “We were going to have to scratch and try to win the next inning. They competed knowing we still had a chance. I was proud of how we competed and finished strong.”
That strong finish started in the top of the fifth inning with walks for McCall and Adam Cardona. The scoring in the inning started with an RBI single by Borgas for the fourth run for Cameron. Jaidyn Sanchez (11) would be hit by a pitch; this would be followed up with an RBI single by Drake making the score 11-5. The momentum continued off a bases loaded walk received by Pedro Sorola (16) for an 11-6 score. The offensive barrage for the Yoemen continued with a base clearing double by Host to make the score 11-9. Greene added to the offense with an RBI triple to cut the deficit to 11-10.
Akin then tied the game with an RBI single; Cameron took the lead with an RBI base hit by Adam Cardona to make the score 12-11. McCall reached home plate on an error for a 13-11 lead to complete the onslaught. The top of the fifth inning finally ended on a groundout that finished an incredible ten run inning.
“Down by eight runs we told our boys to be patient and take until they got a strike,” Delgadillo said. “We needed to get runners on base and a walk was just as good as a hit for us. We emphasized good at bats. Once our bottom half was able to do their job and get on base then it was up to the top of lineup to do theirs. Very proud of our come from behind win.”
Coach put in a new pitcher in the fifth inning. Borgas came in for Adam Cardona and successively sealed the game with a shutout inning.
“Bobby came in and threw strikes,” Delgadillo said. “That’s what we ask of our pitchers and he did just that. Most importantly he competed. The momentum swing was on our side and we capitalized on it.”
With that last inning pitched by Borgas, the Yoemen completed the amazing comeback 13-11 and was able to clinch the game in five innings.