Olton falls to Ropes in Bi-district round, 9-0

The Olton Mustangs saw their season come to an end on Thursday night in Littlefield, as they fell to the Ropes Eagles in the Class 2A Bi-district round of the playoffs, 9-0.

The Mustangs went scoreless in the top of the first inning to open the contest, and in the bottom half of the side, Mason Marmolejo drew a lead-off walk and Brady Bryan was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for Ropes. The runners advanced to second and third on a past ball, before Kade Franklin hit a chop to Alan Vasquez on the mound, who held the runner at third before throwing to first for the out.

Vasquez got Kanon Buckner to pop up to Jett Tomsu in shallow right field for out number two and he got Braxxin Partington to hit a shot to Montgomery at shortstop who made a high throw to first, but Adolfo Garcia was able to stretch and make the catch while keeping his foot on the bag to end the inning.

Olton’s offensive struggles continued into the second inning, as Jett Tomsu grounded out to Brayden Hogg at second base for out number one. Garcia and Paytn Jimenez both struck out swinging to retire the side.

In the home half of the second, Hogg singled up the middle and a balk a few pitches later moved him over to second, before Colton Mortensen laid down a swinging bunt that was bobbled by Vasquez, making the throw to first late, putting runners on the corners for the Eagles.

Mortensen took second on a past ball and Elijah Flores followed it up with a sac grounder to Jett Tomsu at second, who bobbled it, but was able to get the out at first as a run scored to give Ropes the lead, 1-0. Branson Simental was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners for the Eagles.

Vasquez executed a double pick of third and first, getting an out at second for out number two, but another run scored to make the score, 2- 0. Marmolejo hit a grounder to Cole Montgomery at shortstop, but a low throw to first put Marmolejo on second. Bryan was hit by a pitch, but Kade Franklin popped up to Jett Tomsu at second base to end the inning.

In the top of the third, Vasquez struck out swinging, but Fabian Gutierrez had a high pop up fall in shallow left-center field to give Olton a base runner. However, he was picked off at first by the pitcher, Bode Franklin for out number two and Jaxon Tomsu struck out swinging to retire the side.

Olton was able to keep the Eagles quiet in the bottom of the third, as Vasquez got Buckner to chop out to Jett Tomsu at second base for out number one. Partington was thrown out at first by Jaxon Tomsu on a dropped third strike and Hogg chopped out to Vasquez on the mound, who got the out at first to end the inning.

The Mustangs couldn’t get anything going in the top of the fourth, as Jacob Marquez lined out to Hogg at second base and Montgomery and Eddie Ramirez both struck out swinging to retire the side.

The Eagles would bust the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth, as Mortensen singled to left field to lead things off, before Flores struck out looking and Simental struck out swinging for the first two outs of the inning.

Marmolejo hit an RBI single up the middle to score the runner from second. The throw from center field was cut off by Vasquez, who tried to get the out at second, but his throw sailed to the center field fence allowing another run to score, making the score, 4-0.

Bryan singled off of the leg of Vasquez on the mound and he stole second on a past ball, before Kade Franklin knocked an RBI-double to right field on an error by Marquez, making the score, 5-0. Buckner followed it up with an RBI-triple to left-center field, pushing the lead to, 6-0, and Buckner scored on a past ball to stretch the lead to, 7-0, before Partington was hit by a pitch.

Hogg drew a walk, as Vasquez was relieved on the mound by Montgomery. He got Mortensen to strike out swinging to end the inning.

In the top of the fifth, Jett Tomsu struck out swinging, but Garcia singled to right field to give Olton a base runner. However, he would be stranded on first, as Jimenez and Vasquez both struck out swinging to retire the side.

In the bottom half of the inning, Kucel struck out looking for out number one and Maddux Sierra popped up to Gutierrez in shallow left field for out number two, but Marmolejo singled to left field and Bryan followed it up with an RBItriple to right-center field to push their lead to, 8-0.

Kade Franklin hit an RBI-single to third on a diving stop by Victor Reyes, making the score, 9-0, before Buckner was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike to end the inning.

The score would stand over the next inning and a half, as Olton fell to Ropes in the 2A Bi-district round, 9-0.

Vasquez started on the mound for the Mustangs giving up six walks and seven runs, while earning three punch outs in 3.2 innings of work. Montgomery came on in relief and pitched 2.1 innings, givn up two walks and two runs, while earning four strikeouts.