Cardinals fall 8-1
Lindsay unable to overcome early errors
Loading the bases for an out is a risky move for any baseball team but when you do it against the defending CIF Central Section Division V Champion Golden Bears of Sierra Pacific High School, you don’t want to miss. But that’s what the Cardinals of Lindsay ended up doing on a noouts situation in the top of the first inning in Friday’s 8-1 East Sequoia League loss at home.
Loading the bases for an out is a risky move for any baseball team but when done against the defending CIF Central Section Division V Champion Golden Bears of Sierra Pacific High School, you don’t want to miss.
And while the Cardinals of Lindsay got the initial out an errant throw forced them behind early in Friday’s 8-1 East Sequoia League loss at home.
After LHS starting pitcher Ryan Scheufele gave up a walk and a double to left field, the Cardinals (10-12, 6-4 ESL) signaled for an intentional walk to load the bases with no outs in the first inning.
On the next at-bat, SPHS Sammy Springer hit into a fielder’s choice that got the intended out at home, but catcher Mark Ibarra’s throw to first base for the double play went wide right and allowed two runs to come in.
Sierra Pacific (20-1-2, 11-0 ESL) was able to score on the next two at-bats before a groundout and Scheufele’s lone strikeout of the day ended the inning.
“[Scheufele] was very confident coming in to today and we didn’t help him out,” LHS head coach Brett Kendig said. “The ball hit to left [in the first inning] was maybe a catchable ball - it was a tough one. And then they threw the ground ball. We loaded them up on purpose to get the out. Maybe even if we just hold it and don’t throw it, you never know. We might’ve got out of that inning but once it’s four...what are you going to do?”
The junior pitcher went 2 2/3 innings with eight runs allowed on six hits, three walks and a strikeout. He was pulled in the third inning after the Cardinals gave up the final four runs of the game in back-to-back at-bats. Junior Angel Perez relieved Scheufele in the third and went 2 1/3 innings with two walks, one strikeout and no hits allowed while senior Isaiah Duran gave up just one hit in the final two innings.
“I was really proud, all our other pitchers came in and we held them,” Kendig said. “They didn’t score the last four innings...so that’s a real important sign because when we go in the playoffs we need Angel to throw quality innings. And Isaiah. We know Isaiah can pitch but we just like to keep him at shortstop as much as we can because you know you want to be strong up the middle.”
Duran also brought in junior Julio Godoy, who reached on a walk, in the bottom of the sixth with a shot to right field for the Cardinals’ lone score of the game. At the plate, Duran went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
Lindsay struggled offensively against SPHS junior Will Springer who retired seven batters straight before LHS freshman Nick Dunning broke up the no-hitter with a deep hit to right field. Springer allowed two hits, no runs and retired nine in his five-inning appearance.
The defending-esl champion Sierra Pacific secured at least a share of this year’s ESL title with the win while, Lindsay now turns the focus to finishing ESL strong in the hopes of a playoff run. They face Woodlake (1-15, 0-7 ESL), Corcoran (10-16, 6-4 ESL) and Strathmore (9-8, 4-5 ESL) in the final five-game stretch.