Yoemen clip Rockdale late, blanked by Academy

The first installment of the Cameron and Rockdale baseball game went down to the wire as the Yoemen got a clutch late hit by Rick Fuentes to escape with a 6-4 win. 

With the bases and loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh, Fuentes drove the first pitch he saw past the third baseman and into right field, bringing in what was the game-winning runs.

“A saw a fastball and they told us to hunt the fastball,” Fuentes said.  “I finally got the chance and I was able to execute.”

“It is good to see some guys coming up with runners on base and coming through in the clutch,” added Yoe coach Hector Delgadillo. Rick came through when we needed him to.”

For the second game in a row, Cameron got an excellent outing from their starting pitcher, as Alex Alonso went the distance with the 107-pitch performance. 

The Tigers pushed one run across in the second and then three in the 3rd, but were held scoreless in the final four innings. In total, Alonso gave up just five hits, one earned run and struck out nine Tiger batters.  

“We have had two good pitching performances in a row and some pretty good defense,” said Delgadillo.  “The kids kept fighting back and they did not let a whole lot get to them. Kudos to Alex on the mound.  He did not let anything get to him.”

Garrett Roeder finished 1-3 from the plate with two runs driven in.  

20-3A Friday Results: Cameron Yoe 6, Rockdale 4; Franklin 8, Jarrell 7; Academy 8, Lexington 7. 

Academy

Cameron could not run their district win-streak to three games in a row as Academy pulled out a 5-0 shutout win at home.  

Academy built a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to a walk, hit by pitch and dropped a third strike. The lead was extended to 3-0 in the third on another dropped third strike. It eventually grew to 4-0 in the third, but that was the only actual run driven via a hit.  

The Yoemen had opportunities to score, but had runners thrown out on the base pads.  In the first, Zack Andress would be thrown out at home trying to score off of an Alonso single to left. In the fourth, Roeder flew out to right field and Jason Llanas was thrown out at the plate trying to tag up.  

Cameron only had one hit the rest of the way. Llanas’ pitching line was impressive despite taking the loss, with only five hits, two earned runs and nine strikeouts in six innings pitched.  

20-3A Monday Results: Academy 5, Cameron Yoe 0; Lexington 11, Jarrell 7; Rogers 6, Rockdale 4.  

20-3A Standings: 1. Franklin (5-0), 2. Academy (4-1), 2. Lexington (4-1), 4. Jarrell (2-3), 5. Cameron Yoe (2-4), 6. Rogers