Sauceda Blasts Eagles past Bulldogs

Preston Hahn pitches during
Friday's 12-2 victory

The Oran Eagles high school baseball team picked up it's second win in as many games yesterday
thanks in large part to a monster day at the plate by sophomore catcher Clay Sauceda. Sauceda was 3-4  with 2 home runs. The first was a 3 run shot in the third inning that gave the Eagles the lead. The second was a grand slam in the sixth that propelled the home squad their final mercy-rule margin of victory 12-2.

Combine the heroics of Sauceda with the mound work of senior Preston Hahn, who had not pitched since May of 2014 and had not notched a victory since April of that year, the results were more than satisfying. Hahn went 5 innings, allowed 7 hits, 2 runs but only 1 earned. He struck out 6 and walked just 1. He left after a lead off double in the sixth inning ahead 4-1.

The South Pemiscot Bulldogs scored first, plating a run in the second inning.

A leadoff double by their clean up hitter and a sacrifice bunt had a runner at third with only one out. Sophomore Cole Priggel fielded a sharply hit ground ball towards second, looked the runner back at third and then threw out the batter for the second out. It looked like Oran might be able to escape the jam, but after a walk and then a single by the eighth place hitter, the Eagles found themselves trailing for the first time this season. Hahn was able to retire the next batter on strikes and that's how it stood until the bottom of the third.

In that third inning, after one out, the lead off man  Priggel singled to center field. That was followed by another base hit back up the middle by Hahn, who was 2-2 at the plate and also had a walk and was hit by a pitch. 

After Hahn's single, sophomore Drew Reischman hit a long fly ball to right-center field. The right fielder got to the ball and appeared to make the catch, the ball popped out his glove but he was able to catch it again before it hit the ground. Hahn, who was almost to second base by that time, had to scamper back to first. Priggel, who was tagging up on the play, advanced to third. After a lengthy delay, with conferences between umpires and coaches, the ruling was that Priggel did not leave second until the ball had initially touched the fielder's glove which made it legal for him to advance.

At that point, there were runners on first and third with two outs as Sauceda came to the plate. His first time up he had lined sharply to left and only a diving catch by the left fielder had prevented an extra base hit. This time he didn't give the fielder a chance as he rocketed the 1-0 pitch over the left field fence to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish.

Oran added an insurance run in the fifth when, after two were out Hahn wrangled a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He crossed the plate for the fourth tally of the day on a run scoring single by Reischman.

The Bulldogs were able to add an unearned run in their half of the sixth.

Clay Sauceda watches it fly!

After the lead off double, Reischman was called on to put out the fire. He struck out the first two he faced but a passed ball allowed the runner to advance to third. A throwing error then allowed the run to cross and the inning was still alive for the visitors, now trailing only 4-2. Reischman struck out the next batter to end threat.

Entering the bottom of the sixth with a two run deficit, South Pemiscot decided to change pitchers.

Their starter, Riley Cain, had thrown 92 pitches through his five innings, allowed four runs, had struck six and had only walked one. In the sixth inning alone,the Eagles benefited from a total of 4 walks and a hit batsman from 3 separate hurlers.  None of which were able to record an out. Oran also picked up a couple of singles before the mammoth game ending blast by Sauceda.

On the day, Sauceda led the way with his 3-4, 2 runs scored and 7 rbi. He also threw out his third baserunner of the young season attempting to steal second. Hahn was 2-2 with 3 runs scored, 1 rbi and a stolen base besides picking up the victory on the mound. Reischman was 1-3 with a run and 2 rbi. Also, he picked up his second save of the season. Priggel was 1-3, with 2 runs scored and 1 driven in.

Sophomore Denver Elfrink, after being injured much of his freshman campaign, picked up his first career hit and rbi. Senior Blake Overfield had a hit in three at bats and scored once. Both sophomore Layne Johnson and junior Drew Mitchem scored a run.

The Eagles are now 2-0 and will be back in action on Monday as they travel to Puxico to take on the Indians in a game that has the first pitch scheduled for 4:30.