After a hot start to the 2023 season, the Aledo Bearcats (15-9 overall) have been up and down since starting district play back in March and have a 4-3 league mark in 5-5A.
This week was much the same. After being shut out 8-0 by Saginaw at home on April 4, the Bearcats returned the favor with a 7-0 shutout of the Rough Riders on the road on Thursday, April 6. Following the 4-2 road loss to Northwest on Tuesday, April 11, the Bearcats have yet to string a pair of wins together in the month of April.
Ryan Jones got the Bearcats on the board early when he scored from second on a single to left by Brennon Evans. With head coach Chad Barry waiving him home, Jones motored around third to beat the throw home for the score as Aledo went up 1-0 in the top of the second.
Luke Saunders spun a gem on the hill for Aledo to keep the Bearcats on top with a one-run cushion through the first four frames of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, Northwest managed to tie the game up at 1-1. Saunders walked the leadoff batter before quickly collecting a pair of outs. Just when it appeared Aledo would make it out of the inning unscathed, a throwing error allowed the runner to score all the way from first.
Saunders finished out the frame with no other damage done. He left the game at the end of the fifth not having surrendered an earned run in the game on just two hits while striking out five.
The Texans made the most of the home half of the sixth to go up by three runs with the Bearcats having just three outs remaining to make something happen.
In the top of the seventh, patience made the difference at the plate for Aledo. With two outs already recorded, Garrett Rester singled to center to give the Bearcats their first runner of the inning. From there Boyd Thompson, Bosten Dwinell, and Trace Mazon all worked the count to earn free passes that pushed Rester across the plate to make it a 4-2 affair with the bases loaded and two outs in the inning.
Unfortunately for the Bearcats, that’s where the rally ended.
With the short turnaround on Thursday following the loss to Saginaw at home, Matthew Clark led the charge for the Bearcats to claim redemption on the road against the Rough Riders.
Clark tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out six to earn the win for Aledo.
Offensively, the Bearcats got to work early. Aledo scored a run in the top of the first and second innings before putting together a three-run third inning to bury the Rough Riders on the scoreboard.
Aledo added a run in the fourth and another in the fifth for extra insurance they never had to cash in.
Brooks Dwinell’s bat has been red hot as of late. Aledo’s left fielder had a 3-for-3 performance at the dish against Saginaw, including a double and a pair of RBIs.
Thompson and Mazon hit doubles of their own as they both collected a pair of hits in the game.
The Bearcats take to the diamond once again as they host the Texans on Friday, April 14. First pitch for that game is slated for 7 p.m.
April 11
R H E
Bearcats 010 000 1 - 2 6 2
Northwest 000 013 X - 4 5 1
Aledo hitting: Boyd Thompson 1-for-3, BB, SB; Bosten Dwinell 1-for-3, BB, SB; Trace Mazon 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, 2B; Brooks Dwinell 1-for-2, BB, SB; Garrett Rester 1-for-3; Brennon Evans 1-for-3, RBI.
Aledo pitching: Luke Saunders 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1R (0 ER), 6 BB, 5 K; Garrett Addington 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB; Jake Bumgardner 0.1 IP.
April 6
R H E
Bearcats 113 110 0 - 7 9 0
Saginaw 000 000 0 - 0 3 3
Aledo hitting: Thompson 2-for-3, 2B, SB, HPB, 2 RBI; Bo. Dwinell 1-for-4, SB; Mazon 2-for-4, 2B; Br. Dwinell 3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB; Ryan Jones RBI; Rester 1-for-2, SB.
Aledo pitching: Matthew Clark 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K.
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