The Olton Mustangs’ varsity baseball team fell just short against the Clarendon Broncos last Saturday, 10-8, in game one of their double-header at Mustangs Field. Easton Frausto led things off for the Broncos in the top of the first inning, but Jacob Marquez got Jared Musick to pop up to Adolfo Garcia at first base for out number one. Shane Hagood knocked an RBI- double into right-center field to put the Broncos in front early, 1-0.
Hagood would take third on a past ball, before Bryce Williams hit a sacrifice grounder to Garcia at first base for an RBI, making the score, 2-0, with two outs. Braylon Rice grounded out to Jett Tomsu at second base to retire the side.
Marquez was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom half of the first for Olton and Cole Montgomery hit a grounder up the middle with Marquez breaking for second on the pitch. The ball was fielded, but the Broncos were unable to get an out leaving runners on first and second for the Mustangs.
Marquez stole third on the pitcher and on the next pitch, Montgomery took second and Marquez scored on a throw down past second base, as Montgomery was able to advance to third, cutting the lead to, 2-1. Garcia drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Olton, but Jaxon Tomsu struck out looking for out number one.
Frausto tried to pick Garcia at first, but the throw got by the first baseman, aloowing Montgomery to score and Garcia to take second, tying the game. 22. Fabian Gutierrez laid down a bunt that was fielded by Frausto and thrown to first for the out, but Garcia scored on a drop at the plate by the catcher, putting Olton in front, 3-2, with two outs.
Jett Tomsu singled to right field, but Victor Reyes hit a high chopper on the first-base side that was fielded by Frausto and taken himself to the bag at first for the out to end the inning.
The Broncos got a lead-off single through the right side to begin the second inning and the next batter was hit by a pitch and Klay Wilkins drew a walk to load the bases for Clarendon. Shaun Childers was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and tie the game, 3- 3, as Gutierrez relieved Marquez on the mound for Olton.
The Mustangs got an out at the plate, as runner tried to score on a past ball, but Jaxon Tomsu was able to retrieve it and get back to the plate for the tag for out number one. Gutierrez walked Frausto to load the bases and Musick followed it up with a two- RBI double down the third-base line, stretching their lead to, 5-3.
Hagood drew a walk to load the bases for the Broncos, but Williams lined out to Montgomery at shortstop for out number two. Rice was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and stretch the lead to, 6- 3, and the next batter singled through the left side for an RBI, making the score, 7-3. Hagood scored on a pick to third, pushing the lead to, 8-3, before Gutierrez got the next batter to ground out to Reyes at third to retire the side.
Both teams went scoreless in their next at bats, but in the bottom of the third, Hayden Moore relieved Frausto on the mound for the Broncos, as Garcia and Jaxon Tomsu drew back-to-back walks and Gutierrez was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Olton. Musick relieved Moore on the mound for Clarendon and Jett Tomsu laid down a bunt that was touched by Moore before going foul for an RBI single, trimming the lead to, 8-4.
Reyes was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, cutting the lead to, 8-5, but RJ missed a bunt on a third strike for out number one. Eddie Ramirez was thrown out at first, but two runs scored on a bad throw to the plate by Frausto, cutting the lead to, 8-7, with two outs. Marquez would chop outt o Musick on the mound to end the inning.
Both teams went three up and three down in the fourth inning and the Mustang defense was able to keep the Broncos off the board in the top of the fifth inning.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Gutierrez was hit by a pitch to lead things off and he took second on a bad pick-off to first by Musick, before Jett Tomsu struck out swinging for out number one. Reyes knocked an RBIdouble through the left side to tie the game, 8- 8, but Noe Mendoza laid down a bunt and was thrown out at first and Ramirez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Clarendon pushed two runs across in the top of the sixth and Olton was unable to respond in the bottom half of the inning, as they fell to the Broncos, 10-8.
Marquez started n the mound for the Mustangs giving up two walks and three runs, while Gutierrez came on in relief duty giving up five runs and four walks, while earning two strikeouts. Montgomery pitched two innings giving up two runs and one walk, while earning four strikeouts.