Badgers drop 4-3 decision

Yosemite gains confidence in loss to eventual tourney champ

By Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 5:15 PM)

The Yosemite High School boys baseball players did several things right in Wednesday, March 19 in a 4-3 loss to Clovis East at McLane High School in the Fresno Easter Baseball Classic, but winning wasn't one of them.

That's not to say that they didn't play well, they did. It was probably one of the best outings for this young team this season.

Clovis East (15-1) was the eventual tournament winner over a 30-team field, but the Badgers literally took the game down to the wire. The three-day tournament was held March 17-19.

After the Timberwolves scored an unearned run in the top of the second, Yosemite (2-11) came right back in its half of the inning and scored three runs.

Brad Stolp led off the inning with a single to left field and moved to second on a Justin Webb single. Stolp moved to third on a passed ball. Webb stole second with Justin Lovett coming to the plate.

Yosemite has had problems scoring runs this season, but not on this day. Lovett singled to score Stolp, tying the game.

"We played good fundamental baseball against one of the top teams in the section," Yosemite head coach John McMillen said. "We nearly pulled out a win, except for the dinger."

With Webb at third and Lovett on second, the Badgers' Bo Burroughs walked to load the bases.

Jackson Glines followed with another walk, forcing in Webb. Jesse Lownsbury completed the scoring when he singled to left scoring Lovett. All of a sudden the Badgers held a 3-1 lead over the Timberwolves.

Yosemite pitcher Michael Thompson was on the mound and in trouble in the third and fourth innings, giving up four singles, but was able to pitch out of trouble.

Both teams had base runners, but could not push across a run until the top of the fifth inning when Clovis East struck pay dirt.

Thompson walked the leadoff batter on four pitches and then on a one ball, two strike count, gave up a single to centerfield, bringing up the T-Wolves' Jeff Owen.

Owen was struck by a car more than a year ago, suffering multiple injuries.

The pitcher/third baseman has fully recovered and proved as much by powering a tremendous shot over the left-field fence and onto the roof of a building.

The Badgers could not overcome the three-run homer and took the loss.

"Attitudes changed somewhat during and after this game," McMillen said. "I think that they understand what they have to do to win, and I believe that if they put their minds to it, we can still win the league."

From the bench

The Badgers had seven base runners in the loss to the Timberwolves and turned three of them into runs.

A left-handed pitcher, Lownsbury is expected to take the mound when league play continues this week.

"This was the best performance by a YHS pitcher this season," pitching coach Ken Dennis said. "This shows that we are potentially ready for league play and can still win it."

The Badgers host Madera South this afternoon at 4 p.m.