After spending the past few years in Lovelock to start the season, the Lowry High School baseball team returned to Reno last weekend for the annual Mike Bearman Tournament.
The Buckaroos dropped all five games they played, however head coach Ron Espinola was encouraged after the first weekend of play.
“There were some bad things we need to fix, but there was a heck of a lot of good things I saw as well,” Espinola said. “It was encouraging. The big losses to Spanish Springs and Reno just did not go well from the start. Those are two of the best teams we will see all year. The other three games were competitive and we had a chance to win. We have three pages of notes from the weekend. We will just start going through that list little by little.”
Lowry lost to North Valleys 4-1 on Thursday, March 9, in Fernley. North Valleys’ field was unplayable due to snow.
The Buckaroos took Spanish Springs on Friday, March 10, and lost 11-1. Lowry lost its second game on that Friday, 11-10 to Fernley.
On the final day of the tournament, Lowry dropped a 6-3 decision to Wooster and were defeated by Reno 16-2.
Lowry falls to
North Valleys
Lowry started off the season on a high note, as sophomore Ridge Ricketts led off the game with a single. After Jayson Smith reached on a fielder’s choice, Ricketts scored on a wild pitch to give Lowry a 1-0 advantage.
That proved to be all the offense for Lowry, who did not collect another hit until the sixth inning in a single by Nico Espinola. The Buckaroos put two runners on base in the sixth inning, but could not score.
North Valleys tied the game in the second inning and pushed two runs across the plate in the third and did not trail again.
Jake Barnes started for Lowry on the mound and pitched 5.1 innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits. He struck out three and walked one. Ren Mattson and Michael Rangel also saw time on the mound.
“North Valleys was a young team and did not have a good record in the 4A last year,” Espinola said. “But, they put a team out on the field that is going to compete. We did the same thing and it could have gone either way. We just did not hit the ball well. We have not done a whole lot of hitting in practice. I thought our pitching looked good. Jake had a great outing.”
Cougars' hot start
stops Buckaroos
Spanish Springs jumped on the scoreboard with two runs in the first inning and increased the lead to 8-0 in the second.
Ricketts had another strong game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a RBI and a double. Lowry prevented the shutout in the fifth inning, when Ricketts drove home Roberto Rodriguez, who doubled with two outs.
The double by Rodriguez was the only other hit for the Buckaroos.
Anthony Good started and took the loss for Lowry in two innings of work. He gave up nine runs (seven earned) on five hits. Darrin Nelson threw the final 2.2 innings and allowed two unearned runs.
“It’s tough when you get behind early against a team like that,” Espinola said. “Darrin came in and pitched well in relief. We have a couple things to clean up and it is just a few simple things here and there.”
Fernley rallies to
beat Lowry
Lowry got an early look in a league opponent in Fernley and looked poise to collect the victory. The Buckaroos led 10-3 after the top of the sixth inning, only to see the Vaqueros score the final eight runs to walk off with an 11-10 win.
“This one hurt a little,” said the coach. “We had a chance to put them away and just could not finish. Our biggest thing this year to avoid the big inning and we could not do that.”
Fernley claimed a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but Lowry answered back with six runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Ricketts began the rally by reaching base on an error. After a flyout, Jayson Smith singled and Kyle Young was hit by a pitch. Jake Barnes then reached base on catcher interference and Rodriguez walked. Jake Marriott provided the final blow with a double.
The Buckaroos added two more runs in the fifth to go in front 8-1. Fernley got back two of those runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Lowry put two more runs on the board in the sixth to lead 10-3.
Fernley scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning and four more in the seventh to complete the comeback.
Brendan Domire paced Lowry with three hits, while Travis Hardy, Smith, Marriott, Espinola and Ricketts each had one hit.
Kyle Young started and received a no decision in 4.1 innings of work. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits. He walked three ans struck out one. Smith suffered the loss in 2.1 innings of relief.
Wooster knocks off Lowry
Wooster scored three times in the first and second innings to lead 6-0, but Espinola was happy with the way his young pitchers finished the game. The Colts went scoreless in the final four innings.
“It was a pleasant surprise with Marriott and Domire throwing against Wooster,” added the coach. “Wooster may not be the best team, but the play the game right and do so many little things you have to defend against. It makes the game tough. You have to think a lot when you play Wooster.”
Domire started and suffered the loss, but Marriott pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts.
Smith led Lowry with two hits and Espinola had one.
Lowry falls to Reno
Lowry met with Reno, one of the top teams in the 4A, and fell behind 16-0 after two innings.
“It was a rough start, but Reno was a class act,” Espinola said. It could have been bad and they are not bout going out there and embarrassing you.”
Ricketts and Domire each had two hits for the Buckaroos.
Lowry began Northern 3A play yesterday in Spring Creek. The two teams play a doubleheader today (Saturday) at 11 a.m.
