Churchill ace limits MacArthur to 4 hits, 1 run
By Mark Kusenberger
tsrnsports.com
Special to SAsports.com
MacArthur is 18-4 against everyone who isn’t Churchill or Reagan.
But they’re 0-5 against Churchill and Reagan, so they’re 18-9 overall and 6-6 in District 26-5A, one-half game behind Churchill for 4th place.
Churchill is 8-13 against everyone who isn’t MacArthur, and carried a three-game losing streak into Tuesday.
But they’re 3-0 against the Brahmas, so they’re 11-13 overall and 6-5 in 26-5A, one-half game ahead of MacArthur with a series sweep.
Dustin Aguilar hit a two-run single to right field to drive home the tying and go-ahead runs in the fourth, and Jason Williams (5-3) limited the Brahmas to 4 hits in a 4-1 Churchill victory over MacArthur Tuesday night at North East Stadium.
The visiting Brahmas were off to a promising start when Michael Garza slammed a two-out solo homer to left field – his 10th homer of the season – to give MacArthur a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
But even as MacArthur’s Nathan Olson (4-4) was throwing shutout innings, the Chargers were wearing him down.
Churchill loaded the bases with two out before Olson got Grayson Howard to ground out to third baseman Matt Harrell; Churchill didn’t score, but Olson needed 20 pitches to get through the first.
Olson struck out Clint Sharp leading off the second, but strike three got away from the catcher. The catcher’s throw to first sailed over the first baseman’s head, and the throwing error allowed Sharp to reach. Brooks Friesenhahn fouled of a pair of two strike pitches before grounding to second on a 2-2 pitch. Riley Nipper fouled off 4 two-strike pitches before going down swinging on a 5th full-count pitch. Jason Williams fouled off 3 two-strike pitches before going dow swinging on his second 1-2 pitch to end the 3rd. Olson faces four batter and needed 28 pitches to get through the third.
Meanwhile, MacArthur was watching opportunities go by the boards. In the top of the second, Chris Bernal was hit by a pitch and went to second on a groundout by Rene Siller. Matt Harrell drew a 7-pitch walk, then both runners advanced when Williams’ pickoff throw to second bounced off Bernal back for an error. With runners and second and third and one out, Williams struck out Olson looking and got Michael Ramirez to fly out to right on the 8th pitch of his at-bat.
With one out in the third, Aaron McNeil doubled to the right field wall. With first base open, Churchill intentionally walked Garza, while paying customers wanting to see Garza hit playfully booed. Then Williams struck out Eric Evans and Chris Bernal swinging to escape the threat.
MacArthur never got a runner past first base the rest of the game.
Churchill broke through against Olson in the fourth with four straight hits. With one out, Grayson Howard singled to right, then Nick Bolleter singled between short and third. Colton Retzloff singled to right field to load the bases, and Dustin Aguilar drove a 1-0 pitch into right field to score Howard and Bolleter, giving Churchill a 2-1 lead. Olson struck out Sharp and retired Friesenhahn on a fly ball to center to end the fourth.
But Olson had thrown 92 pitches in just four innings, so Olson switched places with Matt Harrell, Olson going to third and Harrell pitching. Harrell started strong by striking out Nipper, then Williams reached on a fielding error by Olson. Ryan Syring was hit by the next pitch, advancing Williams to second. Howard singled to load the bases, then Harrell struck out Bolleter for the second out. But Retzloff singled off the glove of Olson to drive home Williams, and when Syring’s courtesy runner Michael Kraft collided with Olson rounding third, Olson was called for obstruction and Kraft was awarded home plate, making it 4-1 Churchill. Harrell struck out Aguilar to end the inning.
With a 3-run lead, Jason Williams was set. Kraft warmed up in the bullpen to pitch, but never had to enter the game. MacArthur’s Nick Smelser did single with two out in the 7th, putting Aaron McNeil at the plate and Michael Garza in the hole, representing the tying run. McNeil fouled off 4 full-count pitches before flying out to right fielder Bolleter to end the game.
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