LODI RALLIES FOR VICTORY
Robby Loiacono helped set the tone on offense for the Lodi High baseball team.
The Flames senior third baseman also contributed on defense at the right time, and teammate Jonathan Charboneau contributed on the mound when it was needed.
With their help, Lodi dug itself out of an early hole against West in Thursday’s Tri-City Athletic League game at Zupo Field. The Flames came back in the bottom of the sixth inning to post an 8-7 win over the Wolf Pack, in the second game of their best-of-three series. Lodi notched a 14-2 win over West on the Wolf Pack’s field on Tuesday.
“We found a way in the end,” said Lodi coach Hobie Schultz. “It was a good battle.”
Entering the bottom of the sixth, Lodi (4-4 in the TCAL, 10-9) and West (0-8 in the TCAL, 5-12) were tied 6-6. Loiacono, who had singled and struck out in his previous trips to the plate, singled down the middle of the infield. Bobby Yabumoto followed with a double, almost the same area as Loiacono’s hit, that moved Loiacono to third base.
Then came lead-off hitter Logan Morita, who doubled to left field that sent Loiacono home for the go-ahead run at 7-6 and moved Yabumoto to third. Angelo Zazzarino grounded out to third base that gave the Wolf Pack their first out of the game. But that didn’t matter to Yabumoto, who rocketed toward home plate, slid and was called safe for an 8-6 score.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Charboneau of Yabumoto’s run. “Bobby taking home plate, that was sick.”
West didn’t go down easy in the top of the seventh inning with two outs. MJ Saenz reached first base on a Lodi infield error, and scored on Mike O’Leary’s double to center field to make it 8-7.
But Charboneau, who came in relief of starter Chad Plath in the bottom of the fifth inning, struck out West batter Damian Vallejos for the final out and win.
“It’s baseball,” Charboneau said. “Anyone can win in baseball.”
The Wolf Pack scored five times in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game. West had three hits, which included a double off the bat of Saenz, and a single each from Dillon Duarte and Grant Lasserre. The Wolf Pack was also on the move on the base paths, as they had three stolen bases in that inning.
“They are not going to quit,” Schultz said. “We opened the door for them, and they took advantage of it.”
Before the Wolf Pack’s runs, Lodi held what appeared to be a comfortable 6-1 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Loiacono (2-for-2, scored once) and Yabumoto (2-for-3, scored once) had back-to-back singles. Loiacono scored when Morita reached first base on a fielder’s choice; Yabumoto was thrown out at second.
West had opportunities to get its offense going with one out in the top of the third inning. But in a blink of an eye, Loiacono ended those chances for the Wolf Pack.
Alex Crisp hit a sharp line drive to Loiacono for the second out. The Wolf Pack’s Diego Morales, who walked and moved to third base on Lasserre’s first hit of the game, bolted toward home plate. Now realizing Loiacono caught Crisp’s line drive, Morales raced back to third. But Loiacono walked only two steps to tag the base for the final out.
“That ball was hit right on the nose,” said Schultz of Loiacono’s play. “Luckily, we doubled them up and got out of the inning.”
Lodi added two runs to its 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third frame. Zazzarino walked and Colton Smithhardt doubled into left field. Designated hitter Evan Webb singled that drove in Zazzarino and Smithhardt.
The one time West had a lead was after the top of the first inning, 1-0. Vallejos, the Wolf Pack’s lead-off hitter, singled and scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Flames responded in the bottom of the inning with one out. Zazzarino drew his first of two walks, which was followed by Smithhardt, who was bunting, reached first when Crisp, who was pitching, was not crisp with his throw to first base that allowed Smithhardt to get on the bases.
Webb was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Flames. As Hayden Lewis was at the plate, Zazzarino scored the Flames’ first run on a passed ball that moved Smithhardt to third and Webb to second. The two Lodi players scored when Charboneau singled to center field.
Lodi finished the game with eight hits, which included two hits each by Loiacono and Yabumoto. West also had eight hits; Lasserre and Saenz had two hits each.
In 2 2/3 innings of work on the mound, Charboneau, who started the game in left field, only allowed three hits and struck out two Wolf Pack batters.
“Two or three times, he’s come out of the bullpen in the late innings and shut them down,” said Schultz of Charboneau. “That’s a good thing for him to keep that consistency up.”
Lodi and West meet again today on the Wolf Pack’s diamond to wrap up their series.