Photos courtesy of Cartershots
An RBI line drive from Junior Gage Gamblin lifted the Pampa Harvesters (11-9, 4-4) past the Borger Bulldogs 4-3 as they finished their season sweep of their rival to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“It was a big win for our boys,” Head Coach Austin Samulowitz said. “They know every time we play Borger that its going to be a tough game. Our boys had a great couple days of practice leading up to the game and we were able to come out on top.”
The Harvesters relied on solid base-running and some small ball to win the game, while maintaining a clean game in the "E" column.
“Borger had their ace on the mound,” Samulowitz said. “We knew going into the game that we would have to play some small ball to get some runs across the board. Our defense played well behind both Jaime and Greyson.”
Junior Jaime Soto started on the mound for the Harvesters dolling out a strikeout in the opening frame. But the Bulldogs managed to put a run on the board first. The Harvesters got on the board in the home half of the third and it started with a one-out single from Freshman Austin Hunt. Fellow Freshman Phoenix Lopez moved Hunt to second with a line drive and the Harvesters had runners in scoring position. Senior Max Neff put the Harvesters on the board, scoring Hunt and putting courtesy runner Junior Eryk Ballew 90 feet from home.
“Phoenix has stepped up in a big way for our program,” Samulowitz said. “He is a talented young athlete that is an even better person. Anytime we can have a freshman step up and play the role he is in and be successful while doing it is huge for our team. We’re very excited to have him leading our team for the next three years.”
Phoenix Lopez
Senior Boston Botello laid down the bunt and the Harvesters capitalized on the small-ball opportunity and errors by Borger to take the 3-1 lead after Neff and Ballew scored.
Borger clawed back and made it 3-3. Soto had the opportunity to help his cause and hit a ground ball Borger struggled to field. Senior Conner Hall hit a single to move courtesy runner Junior Cy LeBlanc to second before Gamblin’s RBI single to left gave Pampa the 4-3 lead plating LeBlanc.
Soto retired the Bulldogs in order the ensuing frame, followed by Senior Greyson Paronto striking out the next two in the top of the sixth. Paronto brought it home, striking out the final three to close out the game and secure the win.
The Harvesters’ Senior Jack Dyer has stayed strong throughout the season despite recent struggles at the plate. He is hitting .361 with five doubles and three home runs and 16 RBI.
“Jack has had a great start to his senior season,” Samulowitz said. “He is hitting the ball really hard and has three home runs on the season. His home run at Hodgetown against Caprock sticks out in my mind because it was such a timely homerun and helped us solidify our win.”
Jack Dyer
The Harvesters return to action today when they host Hereford looking to avenge a 6-0 loss to the Whitefaces back in March and keep their playoff hopes alive. Game time is at 5 p.m.
“We are going to face another tough Hereford team and another tough pitcher,” Samulowitz said. “We aren’t changing anything, just going to be the best version of ourselves. We know we must make plays when they come to us. We will be ready to play and compete our butts off.”
Stat Round-Up
Junior Jaime Soto pitched five innings with five hits, three runs, three earned runs, five walks and eight strikeouts; Senior Greyson Paronto pitched two innings with no hits, no runs, no earned runs, no walks and five strikeouts. Soto received the nod for the win. Paronto recorded the save.
Senior Max Neff went 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI; Junior Gage Gamblin went 1-3 with an RBI and a stolen base; Freshman Austin Hunt went 1-3 with a run scored; Freshman Phoenix Lopez went 2-2 and Junior Jaime Soto drew a walk.