WINNEMUCCA - With one week left in the regular season, the two playoff spots in the Ruby Mountain League are no closer to a definite decision.
The Lowry High School varsity baseball team kept its chances alive by beating Spring Creek two out of three games this past weekend in Winnemucca. The Buckaroos had an excellent shot at a sweep but watched a two-run lead in Saturday's opening game disappear as the Spartans came back to win 10-7 in eight innings, after Lowry committed four errors in the eighth inning with two outs. The Buckaroos won Friday's opener 8-4 and the Saturday finale 13-3 in five innings.
"Jace (Billingsley) has been our hard-luck guy all year long, especially in league play" said LHS head coach Ron Espinola. "He hasn't been getting run support, but he got it today. He threw a great game and went deeper than he ever had as far as I know and we just gave it away in the seventh and eighth. We come up and make a play and we are fine. The great thing is Jesse (Studebaker) comes out and pitches for the first time since the start of last year in Carson City and gave us a great outing. We were hoping it was last week against Elko but he was sick. How nice is it to find out that he can come out and do that for you?"
The playoff picture in the Ruby Mountain League is a toss up with Elko leading at 10-2. Spring Creek is second at 9-3 and Lowry is third at 8-4. The Buckaroos, who hold the tiebreakers over both schools, can win the league by sweeping White Pine and if the Spartans beat the Indians twice. If Elko beats Spring Creek twice, it wins the league and Lowry must then sweep White Pine to be second.
Lowry broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning in Friday's opener on the strength of consecutive base hits by Brandon Okuma and Calvin Connors, which scored Tanner Lecumberry and Alex Nimmick, respectively.
Spring Creek caught a break in the top of the fourth inning and grabbed its first lead by scoring three runs, all with two outs. The Buckaroos looked to be out of the inning but an errant throw from shortstop by Billingsley to second base on a ground ball with the bases loaded led to two runs. The Spartans went on to add another run on a wild pitch.
Lowry quickly answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, with two of those coming off the bat of Billingsley, who had a two-run home run to give the Buckaroos a 6-3 lead. Brumm had a ground out and Bryan Noble a single to account for the other two runs.
"It was nice to get an early lead, and we capitalized on some of their mistakes," Espinola said. "I would have liked some timely hitting late in the game but we got the hits when we needed to, but I want it all the time."
The Spartans tacked on a single run in the sixth to cut the deficit to two runs at 6-4, but the Buckaroos countered with two runs in the bottom of the frame off a single by Noble.
Noble also went the distance on the mound, as he threw a season-high 125 pitches. The senior allowed four runs (one earned) on seven hits. He struck out 15, including four in the fourth inning, to go with five walks.
"I think that is the highest (pitch count) we have ever run up with him," Espinola said. "The situation called for it and we had two guys ready to go and all three wanted the ball and that is what you want."
Noble also had three hits to lead the team, with Okuma and Billingsley adding two each.
Spring Creek held a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning and single runs in the second and fourth innings. Lowry cut into the deficit with a single run in the first as Noble singled home Okuma and added another single run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Connors to score Brandon Eastman.
The Buckaroos claimed a 7-5 lead in the fifth inning with five runs. Okuma, Connors and Brumm put together three straight singles as part of the big inning. Lowry had a chance to break open the game in the sixth but left the bases loaded, as Brumm was called out on strikes on a questionable call, as the pitch looked to be outside on a full count. It was the ninth pitch of the at bat and ended the inning.
Spring Creek came back to tie the game in the seventh and went on to score three runs in the eighth, as Lowry committed four errors, all with two outs. The first errors occurred on a ground ball to Studebaker at third base, two fly balls were dropped by Okuma and Hernandez and a throwing error was made by catcher Gus Duncan.
"We had our chances to win the game and let it get away from us," added the coach. "In the two losses since Battle Mountain we have been in those games with a chance to win them."
Billingsley went the distance in the loss and threw 124 pitches. The senior allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits. He struck out six and walked two.
Lowry quickly put the loss behind and scored four runs in the first inning of the nightcap. Brumm picked up a two-RBI single and Studebaker a two-RBI double. After scoring twice in the third inning, the Buckaroos put the Spartans away with seven runs in the fourth, including a grand slam by Billingsley.
Studebaker picked up the win, pitching for the first time since the start of the 2011 season. He allowed three runs and three hits, with three strikeouts and four walks.
Lowry steps out of conference play to host Pershing County today at 3:30 p.m. The Buckaroos are back home this weekend to play White Pine. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. and Saturday's doubleheader begins at 11 a.m.
"Right now all we have to do is win," Espinola said. "We have Lovelock on Tuesday but we are looking to White Pine. The approach is to go out, have fun, win and have more fun. I don't care what seed we are, I just want to be in. That is all that matters. You get in the playoffs and you never know what will happen."
[[In-content Ad]]
