Bucks earn shutout victory over Greyhounds, 1-0

Bucks earn shutout victory over Greyhounds, 1-0 News Staff Tue, 04/23/2024 - 4:16 pm   The Buckaroos celebrate a their shutout victory with a dog pile on Camden Escalon, who drove in the game-winning run Friday, April 19 against Peaster. Photos/Mike Williams By Mike Williams news@breckenridgeamerican.com Defense has been the key for the Buckaroos baseball late in their district schedule. It was that defense and a clutch hit that led the Bucks to a 1-0 win Friday, April 19 over Peaster. Buckaroos coach Jeremy West has said throughout the season that he believes that there are several players he can find a good pitcher for any game. Friday night that pitcher was Camden Escalon. He threw 6 1/3 innings and struck out 10 batters. He gave up a walk to open the game but his defense took things over from there in the first inning. Junior Duran caught a line drive for the game’s first out. After Escalon struck out his first batter of the game for the second out, Christian Arellano earned an assist when he fielded a ground ball and threw to Bryson Herring at first base to leave one runner stranded. The Buckaroos had a missed opportunity with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the first inning. Caiden Marin led off by reaching first base on an error. He was later forced out at second base when Aaron Moore hit into a fielder’s choice. Neiko Martinez followed by drawing a walk and Alexis Franco loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. A pair of outs left all three runners stranded. A second opportunity was lost in the bottom of the second inning. Arellano hit a one-out double and was followed by a walk drawn by Escalon. A double play ended the inning without runs scored. The defense kept the Buckaroos in the game. Escalon gave up a pair of walks to open the third inning but quickly recovered. He struck out a pair of batters after a line out to Duran in center field. The Greyhounds had one runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning. After a double to open the inning, the top of the fifth mirrored the third inning with a pair of strikeouts and a line out to center field. The game ended in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off fashion. Arellano hit a one-out single and beat out a throw to first from the shortstop. After stealing second base, Arellano was brought home with a ground ball single to right field by Escalon. After the game-winning run, Escalon was greeted by a dog pile of teammates in the infield. “It was a good ball game. It was a pitcher’s duel, a classic. It was two pitchers going toe-to-toe, allowing some base runners, and then working out of it,” Buckaroos coach Jeremy West said. “Clean defense on both sides for the most part. Peaster’s got a good team (and) they’re well-coached. They’re going to be really good.” The shutout victory was the Bucks’ fourth shutout in a row. The Buckaroos have given up one run in the last five games since their loss to Brock at home April 2. The Bucks last gave up a run Friday, April 5 in the fourth inning of their 7-1 win over Comanche. “Pitching and defense. If you can be good on the mound and be good on defense in this game then you’ve got a chance,” West said. “We’ve battled that for the last two years and this year these guys are veterans. We’re pitching it well and we’re playing good defense behind it. If we do that then we’ll give ourselves a chance.” After celebrating their seniors with their home finale Tuesday, April 23, the Buckaroos will close the district schedule Friday, April 26 at Brock. The district finale will likely decide the district championship. Sports Log in to post comments