Broncbusters smash Lamar

Lamar, CO-Following Saturday’s two losses to Dodge City, Garden City Head Coach Chris Finnegan said the only way for his team to regain their confidence was to win.

Despite a short turnaround, the Broncbusters got exactly what they needed on Monday. And they did it in rather convincing fashion.

Robbie Young drove in three runs, and Garden City’s bullpen pitched lights out, allowing just one run over five innings as the Broncbusters blasted Lamar 12-4 at Lopes Field.

The Broncbusters got off to a fantastic start offensively. Clint Allen led off the game with a double, and eventually scored on Young’s RBI groundout. ReJean Bourget drew a bases-loaded walk, Gino Bourget and Griffin Brunson followed with run-scoring singles, and Garden City (18-18, 5-11) had a 4-0 advantage.

The visitors added to their total in the top of the third when Chris Lara took Lamar (11-15, 4-6) reliever Nick Rohacek deep for his first home run of the season: a solo shot that put the Broncbusters up 5-0.

After the Lopes got a run back in the bottom half on Brennan Ryan’s solo jack, Garden City put together another big inning in the fourth. Brunson started it with a double, Allen moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, and Alec Eskenazi smoked an RBI single to make it 6-1. Young and Truslow followed with run-scoring base hits, and Garden City was up 8-1.

Meantime Broncbusters starter Brandt Sobczak was effective, limiting any damage by allowing just three runs on four hits in four innings. He struck out three, and left with a five-run cushion.

Garden City kept coming in the fifth, loading the bases against Travis Struble. Young bounced into an RBI fielder’s choice, and Eskenazi came around to score when Russell Cruz was hit by a pitch with the sacks full.

The Broncbusters added a run in the seventh and another in the ninth before Paxton Robinson worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth to close the game.

Nick Iossi earned the win in relief, throwing a scoreless fifth. Allen, Eskenazi, Young, Truslow and Lara all recorded multi-hit games. (ReJean) Bourget added two RBI.

Next up: Garden City at McCook-Wednesday, March 28-3 p.m.