Smith’s bases-loaded triple sinks Bruins

SHINGLE SPRINGS — A four-run rally in the top of the seventh inning gave the El Dorado High baseball team a 5-2 intra-county win over rival Ponderosa in a nonleague game Thursday afternoon at the Bruins’ diamond.

With the Bruins ahead 2-1 entering the top of the seventh frame, the Cougars (2-0) started their rally with one out as James Alvarez walked, Zack Culp singled and Owen Mackendrick walked to load the bases. Matt Smith’s triple to right-center field cleared the bases and he tagged and scored on Chris Swineford’s sacrifice fly.

“It was a very well-played ball game,” El Dorado head coach Rusty McDonald said.

But the Bruins (0-1) didn’t give up going into the bottom of the last inning. Cody Selders singled to right field with two outs, Matthew McBride walked and Ryan Casey singled before a fielder’s choice ended the game.

“We do have a couple of guys who can drive it out,” Ponderosa head coach Tyler Graham said.

El Dorado scored its first run in the top of the first inning when Smith (2-for-4, double and three RBIs) singled and scored on a double by Swineford.

In the bottom half, Ponderosa tied the game when McBride was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Ian Boyle. In the second frame, the Bruins took the lead when Ian Boyle reached base on an error and scored on Troy Zeier’s double.

Timothy Hinrichs went the distance on the hill for the Cougars, giving up six hits, striking out one and walking only one Bruin batter.

For the Bruins, Parker Wright went 6 2/3 innings and Logan Murray pitched the rest of the seventh inning. They combined to give up six hits and four strikeouts.

“He pitched a real good game,” said McDonald on Wright. “It was a good game — anyone could’ve won.”

Parker added, “We have really good quality arms.”

El Dorado’s 17-player roster includes two seniors, eight juniors in addition to the five sophomores and a freshman in Alvarez.

“We’re a young team,” McDonald said. “But they are learning. I’m hoping, as they mature that they get better as the season goes on.”

Parker feels pitching and defense are the strengths to this year’s Bruins team. There are five seniors and 10 juniors on the Bruins’ squad.

“We’re going to be a small ball team,” Parker said. “That’s how we manufactured those two runs.”

Contact Mike Bush at 530-344-5079 or mbush@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @MBushMtDemo on Twitter. 

Mike Bush

Mike Bush has been working at the Mountain Democrat since August 2011. Mike is the Sports Writer and Features Writer.

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