Mules vs Friona & Shallowater (4-21&25-2015)

Mules vs Friona & Shallowater (4-21&25-2015)

The Mules won a pitching duel Tuesday in Friona 3-1 to secure third place in District 2-3A. Dustin Smith was the winning pitcher. He gave up one run on six hits and the Mules committed three errors. Smith struck out five Chieftains and stranded eight. 

Saturday the Mules hosted the Shallowater Mustangs for the Mules final regular season game. It was Senior Day for the Mules. The pregame ceremonies turned out to be the highlight of the day for the Mules. 

The six Mule seniors and their parents were introduced. Future plans for the players was also read to those present in the ballpark. The Mules lost the game 10-2 with Shallowater scoring the first 10 runs in the game. The Mules scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

The Mules went in order against Friona in the first three innings. Nathan Rejino doubled to right field in the top of the fourth for the Mules’ first hit of the game but he did not score. 

The Chieftains broke the scoring ice in the bottom of the third inning on an error, a single and a double. Smith got a strike out to end the inning and left three Chieftains on base. 

Bryce Mauricio bunted down the first baseline for an infield hit in the top of the sixth inning with two Mule outs. An error on the first baseman allowed Rejino to reach first base and Mauricio stopped at third. The Friona catcher attempted to pick Mauricio off but made a high throw to third. Mauricio scored on the error to tie the game at 1-1.

Felipe Guerrero drove a double to centerfield with one out. Wes Clarkson singled to right field to score Guerrero. Clarkson went to second when the right fielder booted the ball. Cameron Hardwick sent a ground ball up the middle that was fielded by the shortstop but the first baseman failed to catch his throw. Clarkson scored on the error to give the Mules an insurance run. 

Friona’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the seventh inning singled to right field. Smith struck out the second batter for the first Friona out. The third batter singled to centerfield and Grey Johnson chased down the ball. 

The base runner at first rounded second and was digging for third base. Johnson made a perfect throw to third base and Danny Campos had the ball in his glove for the tag long before the runner arrived. A pop fly to Rejino at second ended the game. 

Shallowater scored in every inning except for the fifth. The Mustangs exploded for five runs in the third inning and cashed in on two Mule errors. 

Shallowater led 10-0 and the Mules needed 10 runs to extend the game when the bottom of the seventh inning started. Guerrero led off the bottom of the inning with a single to left field. Campos sliced a ground ball through the hole to put Mules at first and second with no outs. 

Pancho Elizalde almost took the pitcher’s head off with a line drive back up the middle that scored Guerrero. Clarkson sent a fly ball deep to right field to sacrifice home Campos for the Mules only two runs. 

The Mules have an open date Tuesday while the other teams are wrapping up the season. The Mules are scheduled to travel to Andrews to play the New Deal Lions in a practice game before entering the post season. 

The Bi-District opponent has yet to be determined but will come from District 1-3A.