Carson Strange holds the Cal City runner at first base. Submitted Photo
By Ray Conner
The varsity Broncs baseball squad took a couple of lumps as they competed in HDL play. They were shut out by Cal City and then were doubled up by Bishop three days later.
The Cal City game was played on the Broncs home field. The final score was 4-0. Versus Bishop on the road saw Kern Valley drop the 8-4 decision.
In the Cal City game, the Broncs had chances to score, but never could get the big hit to put pressure on their opponents. They left eight men on base: they could not touch the home dish. The Ravens pitcher limited Kern Valley to four hits and three free passes. He would fan 1but once 5 Broncs to add to the offensive woes of the team.
Cal City took advantage of some fielding miscues to score three unearned runs in the contest. They scored an unearned run in the second inning to go up 1-0. The following at bat, the Ravens scored two more unearned runs to make it 3-0. They plated the fourth and final run in the top of the seventh.
Cameron Thomas led the Broncs with two hits. Zack Wargo and Jordan Mead each had one hit for Kern Valley.
On the bump, Wargo (4-4) took the loss. He allowed three unearned runs in five and two-thirds innings of work. He gave up three hits and walked three. He was able to set down 13 Ravens on strikes. In relief, Seth Stockwell finished up. He went one and one-third innings giving up one earned run on two hits. He walked none and struck out two.
Three days later the trip to Bishop saw Kern Valley fall behind early and could never catch up. Bishop took the early lead by scoring three times in the bottom of the first. They finished their scoring with five runs in the third. They would hold on as the Broncs tried to rally late, only to come up short.
Seven errors led to the demise of the Broncs chances of winning. Only two of the eight runs were earned as Kern Valley extended innings that produced runs for the Broncos.
Early on, Kern Valley had scoring opportunities, but once again they could not push any runner’s home. Thirteen runners were left on base in the seven innings of batting for Kern Valley. In the sixth inning they left the bases loaded after scoring twice. As a team the Broncs received eight walks to go along with nine hits. None came at a timely manner.
The Broncs scored twice in the sixth with two hits and an error on Bishop. They followed that with another pair of runs in the seventh. Another error and on the Broncos and a two-out double helped put runs up on the scoreboard.
Kern Valley saw Ethan Stockwell lead the team in hitting. He had a pair of two-base hits that knocked in two runs. Thomas and Chris Lopez each had two hits, while Mead had one hit and was credited with one RBI. Blake Baughman and Aiden Madden had one hit apiece for the Broncs.
S. Stockwell was saddled with the loss on the hill. He pitched three innings allowing all eight runs. Again, only two were earned. He gave up just three hits and walked four. He was credited with one strikeout.
The Broncs sit at 5-3 in the HDL and are 12-5 overall. They are tied with three other teams in the HDL. Cal City and Mammoth join Kern Valley with the same league record.
The Broncs went on the road to face Mammoth on Tuesday. They will be back at home on Friday as Boron comes to town. Both games start at 3:15 p.m.
