PAGE A16, KEIZERTIMES, JULY 30, 2021
Big ninth-inning gives Campesinos victory over Mavs
Sergio Rey scores one of the Campesinos five runs in the top of the ninth.
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
The Campesinos have been atop
the standings since the season started
in May, and on Friday, July 23, they
showed why they are considered the
best team in the Mavericks League.
With the score tied 4-4 in the top of
the ninth, the Campesinos rallied for
five runs in the final frame to defeat the
Mavericks by a score of 9-4.
“I hate to keep using the word resil-
ient, but that is what they are. The
overwhelming factor for us is these
guys never give up. They play every
pitch, it doesn’t matter what the score
is,” Campesinos manager Daniel
Robertson said. “They are comfort-
able in close games, and that is what
it comes down to. A team that is a
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
runs in the top of the second
to grab the advantage early
on. Back-to-back singles from
The overwhelming factor
Collin Runge and Trevor
for us is these guys
Morrison to start the frame
put the Campesinos in busi-
never give up. They play
ness. Even though Runge was
every pitch, it doesn't
caught attempting to steal
matter what the score is.
third, a double down the right
field line by Eric Whittfield
scored Morrison from second
and gave the Campesinos a
1-0 lead.
— DANIEL ROBERTSON
With Whittfield on second
Campesinos manger
and two outs in the frame,
Drew Bayard lifted a high but
shallow fly ball into center
championship team has got to win the
field. After making a poor read
close ones.”
on the ball, Mavericks center fielder
The Campesinos scored a pair of Alex Emerson tried making a diving
catch, but came up empty handed
as Bayard’s RBI-bloop pushed the
Campesinos lead to 2-0.
The Campesinos extended their
advantage to 4-0 in the top of the
fourth thanks to a pair of errors from
the Mavericks.
Campesinos pitcher Eli Fultz
cruised through the Mavericks lineup
in the first three innings without giving
up a hit. But in the bottom of the fourth,
the Mavericks began to chip away at
the Campesinos lead.
Joce Phelan broke up the no-no with
a hard-hit single to right field. Two bat-
ters later, Drake Zarate punched a base
hit into center field. The ball was mis-
played by the center fielder, Bayard,
which allowed Phelan to come around
and score the first Mavericks run of the
contest.
Sam Lauderdale knocked a see-
ing-eye RBI-single into left field later
in the inning to trim the deficit to 4-2.
However, after giving up two runs in
the fourth, Fultz pitched a 1-2-3 frame in
the bottom of the fifth. He finished the
game with nine strikeouts and gave up
two runs and six hits over five innings.
“He was commanding his pitches
and pounding the zone,” Robertson
said. “Eli has been getting better and
better every outing. He has been one of
those guys that has taken every oppor-
tunity in stride.”
In the bottom of the sixth, Robertson
elected to take his starter out after 79