Ball games resume after spring break to squeeze in games between showers
The Chester Volcanoes celebrate just after the winning run was scored in a hard won victory over the Los Molinos Bulldogs. From left, Connor Barr, Wade Neer, Joey Tantardino, Logan Oswold. Photo by Kim ClarkVolcano baseball toughs it out in Los Molinos to win 13-12
“We are so close to playing the perfect complete game, you are so close,” said head coach Mike Klimek. “Today is a day that builds confidence. You showed courage, you never gave up. See you at practice tomorrow.” That’s what coach had to say to the CHS boys after they pulled a big 180 with the Bulldogs.
“It was a gut check trailing 12-6 in the bottom of the 6th,” said CHS assistant coach George Wellman. “Mental toughness prevailed in a hard fought come-from-behind win against a very good team”
A few highlights from the game include: Lucas Klimek going 3 for 4 with a homerun and 4 RBIs, and 5 Putouts. Connor Barr, scored a run, went 2 for 3 at the plate with a homerun, 3 RBIs, and 5 Putouts. Joey Tantardino scored 2 runs going 3 for 4 with a Double, 4 Putouts, and 2 Assists. Wade Neer scored 3 runs and went 2 for 2 at the plate. From the mound Neer pitched 4.3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 2 hits, and blanked Los Molinos in the 6th and 7th innings.
In the bottom of 6th inning the Vols rallied from their trailing position at 6-12. Tartandino lead off getting to first to start the Volcano rally. Logan Oswold, worked a full count to get on base following Tantardino’s single. Haven Chase’s key RBI hit brought Tartandino in to score and that set the stage, 7-12. Dillon Jilbert, drove in 2 runs to bring the Vols closer to nip on the Bulldog heels, 9-12. Kooper Clark, Wade Neer, and Lucas Klimek moved runners along with walks on balls or hit by pitches. This brought the hot Volcanoes dangerously close to scorching those Los Mo dogs, 10-12. Barr hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Lucas Klimek, 11-12, and the inning ended.
The Bulldogs were not allowed to bring their lead to any safer number as the Chester boys stepped back up to bat in the bottom of the 7th inning. Logan Oswold lead off and advanced to 1st base after being hit by a pitch. With no outs, Chase stepped up to single and move Oswald to second, still no outs. Jilbert worked a long count and struck out swinging. Kooper Clark advanced to 1st after being hit by a pitch and now the bases were loaded with just one out on the scoreboard. Neer, is hit by a pitch pushing Logan Oswold across the plate to score, 11-11. The bases were still loaded with just the one out and a tied score. Klimek singled on his first pitch to left field driving in Chase for the winning run.
The Chester Volcano baseball team record is 10-4 overall and 2-1 in League. The next games for the first place boys are at Maxwell on today, April 29, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Special thanks to CHS assistant coach George Wellman for all the great details on the Chester baseball games today and throughout this year’s season.
