Red Demon baseball sweeps McPherson

(Postgame Interview with Omar DonJuan: https://soundcloud.com/user-197579773/omar-donjuan-talks-game-winner)

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The Dodge City High School Red Demon baseball team picked up two non-Western Athletic Conference victories on Tuesday evening at Demon Field. Dodge City won the first game, 4-1 and then the second game, 3-2 in 8 innings.

Game 1

Erubiel Duron set the ton on the mound in game one for Dodge City, as he picked up the win after going five innings. The Dodge City pitching staff has struggled this season with command, but Duron struck out five and gave up just four hits, three of which were singles.

After a McPherson run in the top of the first, Noah Sowers drove home Alden Knedler with a single after Knedler had doubled to left. The Red Demons tacked on two more runs in the second on a two-run single from Cody Ibarra. Dodge City added one more in the fifth to get their three-run lead.

Game 2

Sowers got the scoring started in the second game, as he drove in Wyatt Childress on an RBI single to center field.

McPherson tied it up in the third inning on a bases-loaded walk that scored Cheatham. Dodge City starting pitcher Noah Sowers struggled in the third, walking three and hitting one batter, but luckily for the Red Demons, McPherson only scored the one run.

Dodge City regained the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after Damian Rodriguez came around to score on a passed ball after he had a one-out single to left.

McPherson’s Aidan Hoover tied the game at two apiece in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice bunt which scored Kourtney Craig.

After the Red Demons were held scoreless in the final two frames, the game was sent to extra innings. Craig led off the eighth inning for McPherson with a single, but he was then picked off at first after Knedler threw down to Omar DonJuan after the first pitch. Adrian Mendoza would get the next two Bullpup batters out and sent the game to the bottom of the eighth.

Duron led off the inning with a routine grounder to Hoover at second, but his throw was not dug out by Craig at first. Duron then stole second on the pitch home to DonJuan. After two unsuccessful attempts at a sacrifice bunt, DonJuan was down to his final strike. The senior lined it up the middle and in to shallow center field. The throw home was cut-off and that allowed Duron to score and walk-it-off.

DonJuan was tackled by his teammates in shallow left field, as they celebrated the sweep.

Game 1

McPherson – 100 000 0 — 1 5 3

Dodge City – 120 010 x — 4 6 1

W: Duron (2-0) L: Rinker (0-5) S: Bacon (1) Time: 1:35

Game 2

McPherson – 001 001 00 — 2 9 1

Dodge City – 100 100 01 — 3 5 1

W: Mendoza (2-1) L: Feil (2-3) Time: 2:23