Lowry’s Kaysin Garner, Matthew Casalez and assistant coach Pachi Bengochea wait in the on deck circle for the inning to begin.
While Northern Nevada was getting slammed by one of the biggest storms of the year, the Lowry High School baseball team was able to escape beforehand and head to Needles, Calif., to open the season.
Under the direction of new head coach, Brent Riemersma, the Buckaroos went 1-4 over three days at the Colorado River Invitational.
Lowry took on two Arizona schools on Thursday, losing to Willams 8-3 and Mohave 6-3.
Lowry picked up its first win of the year on Friday morning, beating Wendover, Utah 7-5 but lost its second game of the day 16-4 to River Valley (Mohave Valley, Ariz.
In its final game of the tournament, Lowry lost 10-4 to host Needles.
Williams 8,
Lowry 3
The Buckaroos allowed just three his by the Vikings, but 11 errors on defense proved to be costly.
The contest was tied 1-1 after an inning of play, when Williams added two runs in the second inning and five more in the fourth to go in front 8-1.
The Buckaroos scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings but could not complete the comeback. Aiden Tregellas started for Lowry and suffered the loss in four innings of work.
He struck out three and walked four. None of the runs he allowed were earned. Kayd Garner threw the final two innings.
The junior did not allow a hit, struck out two and walked one.
Seven different Lowry players including Txema Bengochea, Erick Valencia, Connor Peterson, Brayden Dennis, Matthew Casalez, Gabe Lange and Jayce Casalez.
Mohave 5,
Lowry 2
After giving up a run in the bottom of the first inning, Lowry tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning, when Adam Brooks scored from third on a bunt from Anthony Guzman.
The Thunderbirds took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fifth inning to go in front 3-1. Matthew Casalez and Kaysin Garner opened the sixth inning singles. Casalez eventually scored off a fielder’s choice by Adam Brooks. The inning ended with Lowry runners getting thrown out on the bases.
Angus Boyles threw a complete game for Lowry, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits. The junior struck out seven and walked two.
Garner, Casalez, Guzman and Brooks each had one hit.
Lowry 7,
Wendover 5
Lowry got off to a slow start in its first game on Friday, as Wendover jumped out to a 4-1 advantage after three innings of play. The Buckaroos regrouped and scored six runs in the fourth inning to earn the victory.
Jayce Casalez started the rally with a single to score Guzman and with the bases loaded, Matthew Casalez, the next batter walked to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Bengochea grounded into a fielder’s choice to make the score 5-4 and Valencia completed the comeback with a two-RBI double.
Brooks went the distance on the mound, allowing five runs (one earned) on eight hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Valencia picked up two hits and two RBI.
River Valley 16, Lowry 4
In the second game on Friday, Lowry took on River Valley and the Dust Devils scored the first 12 runs of the game.
The Buckaroos scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning.
Matthew Casalez, Garner, Boyles and Brooks each had a hit. Peterson had two RBI off a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning.
Needles 10,
Lowry 4
Needles raced out to a 7-0 lead after two innings and controlled the game from there. Lowry plated two runs each in the third and fifth innings.
Boyles collected the lone hit for the Buckaroos. Bryce Niblack and Jakob Bauman split time on the mound.
Lowry is scheduled to travel to Reno and Sparks next weekend but that is subject to weather and field conditions. Lowry is scheduled to play North Valleys on Friday at 1 p.m. and Sparks on Saturday in a doubleheader at 10 a.m.