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Third baseman Gabriel Hemmer attempts to tag Mesa's Taylor Fast despite a high throw during Friday's game at Yuma High. The Criminals were defeated 15-2.
PHOTO BY RYAN BRENNECKE, THE SUN
Crims downed by Mesa
The Yuma High baseball team has had some players banged up, had a long week last week and was coming off a late-night region opening loss less than 24 hours earlier.
All that might have caused the Criminals to come out a little weary Friday against Mesa.
Yuma allowed some early unearned runs and the game unraveled on them from there, dropping a 15-2 five-inning run-ruled game at Doan Field.
"We came out real flat. I could see it at batting practice," Yuma coach Judd Thrower said. "We're trying to rest as many guys as we can because we had a long week last week and a late one (Thursday). We were trying to get some fresh legs going and it backfired on us.
"Any guy we put in the lineup we expect to come out and be successful. They just didn't answer the bell like we thought they should."
Already up 2-1, Mesa strung together three straight singles to start the second inning. The second one also went for a two-base error and contributed to a pair of unearned runs in the inning. Six of the Jackrabbits' first 10 runs were unearned.
"When we gave (Mesa) a little bit daylight they just put it right on us," Thrower said. "They banged it around the yard, took extra bases. They capitalized on our mistakes in the biggest way they could."
Yuma (5-6 overall, 0-1 5A Gila Valley) only managed five baserunners for the game - three hits. Down 2-0, Yuma put one on the board in the bottom of the first.
Drew Chavez singled, advanced to second on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and would come around to score the Crims' first run on a passed ball.
Yuma second baseman Garrett Urena led off the third with a base hit up the middle. He would score on a passed ball and wild pitch during the same at-bat.
Louie Aguiar had Yuma's other hit.
"The good thing is it's baseball, so we get 15 more of these that really count," Thrower said. "We try to tell our guys that the most important game is the next one - if we win or lose. After a loss like that, you think about it for a bit and move on."
