Pump Jacks Slip Up On Rainy Night At Acadiana

Published on July 19, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


For a while, the East Texas Pump Jacks and Acadiana Cane Cutters were unsure whether or not they would be able to play a full nine-inning game due to rain in the Lafayette, Louisiana area.

The game was completed, but unfortunately, a late comeback by the Pump Jacks was left unfinished in an 8-5 road loss to the Cane Cutters at Fabacher Field.

The game started slowly for both offenses as starting pitchers Will Mathis and Ty Schlottmann were able to work efficiently in the early going. They scattered three hits through the first two frames.

In the third, the Pump Jacks broke the ice. With one out, John Williams hit a clean single up the middle and stole second base. Justin Wall then shot a double just inside the third base bag to plate Williams and give the Pump Jacks the early 1-0 lead.

The lead would not last long, as the Cane Cutters tied the game in the bottom of the frame on a double from Mike Barba. Ladd Rhodes then gave Acadiana a 2-1 lead when he singled to left to score Barba.

In the bottom of the fourth, a bases-loaded walk made the score 3-1 Cane Cutters, and with the bases still loaded after a strikeout by reliever Chase Greening, Barba singled to center field to make the deficit 5-1 for East Texas. After a walk, a groundout to second base plated another run to make the score 6-1 before Greening struck out his second batter of the inning to get out of further trouble.

The Pump Jacks would respond in the top of the fifth inning. Blair DeBord led off with a double, and he advanced to third on a sharp single from Kevin O'Leary. DeBord then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 6-2 Acadiana. O'Leary advanced to third when Cane Cutters catcher Mitchell Nau threw wild to the pitcher covering home plate, and that ended up being big when Gabe Woods made a diving catch near second base in the next at-bat. O'Leary came home on that play to make the score 6-3 Cane Cutters as rain began to fall at Fabacher Field.

Fortunately for all parties involved, the weather was able to stay dry enough to continue the game. Acadiana tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 8-3, but the Jacks came back with two runs of their own in the next half-inning. Wall reached on a leadoff walk, chasing Mathis from the game, and after the next two batters were retired, Kash Kalkowski smashed a homer to left field off reliever Brad Day to make the score 8-5 Cane Cutters.

After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, Damion Lovato reached on a throwing error by Gabe Woods at second base. After Braxton Lee made a diving catch in left field to rob DeBord of an extra-base hit, O'Leary was hit by a Kelby Langston pitch. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, but with the tying run at the plate, Langston was able to retire the next two batters to seal the victory for Acadiana.

Williams ended up 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Wall went 1-for-3 and also had a run scored and an RBI. Kalkowski had a home run for his only hit of the game in four at-bats as well as two RBI.

A bright spot on an otherwise overcast evening at rain-soaked Fabacher Field was Greening, who went two innings in relief of Schlottmann and struck out two batters in his Pump Jacks debut.

Schlottmann took the loss for the Pump Jacks, with Mathis picking up the win, and Langston earning the save.

The Jacks return to historic Driller Park to take on the Victoria Generals tomorrow on another Fireworks Friday, presented by SWEPCO and CBS 19. The Pump Jacks will be giving away 500 rubber bracelets honoring SWEPCO's 100th anniversary, and Louie the Lightning Bug will make an appearance on behalf of SWEPCO. The Jacks will also have a bounce house at historic Driller Park for Fireworks Friday, with the help of A & V Sales and Rentals in Henderson. Fans interested in arranging a bounce house for a party of their own can contact A & V at (903) 238-5522.

Fans can bring their dogs to the ballpark on Saturday night for Dog Day at Driller Park. Bring your four-legged friends to historic Driller Park and enjoy the Pump Jacks facing off against the Generals once more. Take a dip in the dog pool and even join your dog as you both participate in on-field contests.

First pitch for each game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Keep up with the Pump Jacks' fifth anniversary season on www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. Join the conversation and interact with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Jacks on Facebook and Twitter.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 19, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central