So, you are saying there is a chance?
That is all the Lowry High School baseball team was asking for as it enters the final week of regular season play at home on Friday and Saturday.
A postseason berth seemed impossible a few weeks ago, but the Buckaroos have managed to stay in the hunt by getting the wins they needed and getting help from others.
Lowry (11-15 overall, 11-10 Division I-A North) traveled to Fernley last weekend and won two of three games. The two schools split a doubleheader on May 2, with the Vaqueros winning game one 8-7 and the Buckaroos taking the second 16-14. Lowry went on to beat Fernley 11-8 on Saturday.
"I look back and think what could have been," said LHS coach Ron Espinola. "But we are here and still have a chance and the only game that matters is Friday. It was nice to see us come out and play with enthusiasm in Fernley. We had fun. We did some really good things and we did some things that we have done all year to hurt us and that hasn't gone away. We just can not hold on to leads."
In the opener on Friday on May 2, Lowry overcame a 3-1 deficit after the first inning to lead 7-6 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Buckaroos plated single runs in the third and fifth innings to tie the game at 3-3.
The Vaqueros responded with a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth, but that was short-lived as the Buckaroos countered with four runs in the top of the seventh to go in front for the second time. Lowry scored the first run in the top of the first.
Lowry could not hold the advantage, as Fernley struck twice in the bottom of the seventh to escape with the victory. Both runs were unearned, coming after an error.
"It was our game to win and we didn't make the plays throughout the game to do that," Espinola said.
Aaron Nelson suffered the loss in his 5.1 innings of work. He allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one. Calvin Connors threw the final 1.1 innings and gave up two runs (none earned) on four hits. He had two strikeouts and a walk.
"Aaron pitched OK and got into the sixth," Espinola. "He didn't have total command, but he pitched. To me that is a sign of someone knowing what they are doing. He didn't have his best stuff, but he got his innings. He limited damage very well."
Tanner Lecumberry, Troy Hardy, Christian Dawson and Connors each had two hits for the Buckaroos. Donovan Brumm, Brandon Okuma, Colin Doyle and Nelson had one hit apiece.
"A timely hit there or a play made here and there makes a big difference," Espinola said. "It wasn't the walk-off in the seventh, its leaving a couple of runners on base in the second and this something we have done all year."
The nightcap resembled a football score as Lowry picked up two 2-point conversions for the two run victory. The Buckaroos began the streak of putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard, plating four runs in the top of the first inning. The Vaqueros answered back in the bottom of the frame and cut the deficit in half.
Lowry regained its four-run advantage, scoring twice in the top of the second inning, only to see Fernley counter with five runs to take its first lead of the contest at 7-6. The Buckaroos shot back in front at 8-7 in the top of the third, scoring twice, but that was short-lived with the Vaqueros picking up a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to lead 9-8.
Lowry grabbed some control, scoring once in the fourth and adding four more in the fifth to go in front 13-9. Fernley cut that deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth and tied the game at 14, with three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
The Buckaroos regrouped after the seventh inning and scored twice in the eighth and Okuma shut down the Vaqueros in the bottom of the frame to get the win.
"We went through some pitchers," Espinola said. "That was the first time this year that Tanner really struggled. Brandon came and pitched for the first time in about a month and we did what we needed to do to get the win. It was a long day, we got back to the motel at 8 p.m."
Lowry pounded out 15 hits with Tytin Johnson going 3-for-4 with four RBI. Nelson, Lecumberry, Brumm and Connors each collected two hits. Lecumberry scored four times and knocked in three runs. Doyle, Hardy, Okuma and Dawson had one hit apiece.
The finale on Saturday looked familiar to the second game the night before. Each squad plated runs in each of the first three innings. The only difference was Lowry scored three runs in the top of the second and the Buckaroos led 7-6 going into the top of the fifth inning.
The Buckaroos took control in the top of the fifth with a trio of runs and Dawson kept the Fernley at-bats at bay in the final three innings to pick up the save. Dawson allowed two runs on two hits. Johnson started the contest and threw four innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on nine hits. He walked six and struck out five.
"Christian came in and gave us three good innings of relief," Espinola said. "Still, we should be playing a cleaner game, but if we aren't going to pitch or play defense effectively, we need to put up runs. We need to score as many as we can and hold on. We have to keep our foot on the gas."
In addition to getting the save, Dawson was 4-for-4 at the plate with a walk and three RBI. Lecumberry, Doyle and Okuma each had two hits.
Lowry hosts Spring Creek Friday at 3 p.m. and in a doubleheader on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Buckaroos must sweep the Spartans to have any hopes of a playoff berth.
"Spring Creek has played a lot of low-scoring games, so obviously their pitching and defense is good," Espinola said. "Right now we are not set up for that. The best thing for us is to get in an offensive battle. It would be nice to play a 1-0 or 2-1 game. It's all about winning for us, anyway we can."
Tony Erquiaga can be contacted at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
