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TCL Brazos Valley Bombers

Bombers Live Up To Team Name In Home Run Derby

July 17, 2021 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
Brazos Valley Bombers News Release


VICTORIA, Texas - The Brazos Valley Bombers took down the Victoria Generals Saturday night, 10-1, in one of the team's most offensively successful matchups of the season.

The Bombers combined an aggressive hitting and baserunning style with a defensive lockdown on the mound, all but guaranteeing success for the navy gold. Brazos Valley can now set its sights on returning to Edible Field, with thousands of fans anxiously awaiting the team's arrival and a homecoming victory celebration in store.

Relief pitcher Dylan Johnson said winning Saturday was exactly what the team needed as it approaches the final stretch of the Texas Collegiate League season.

"We've been going back and forth a lot with [Victoria]," Johnson said. "I really believe that tonight will lead to more success moving forward. We're hot right now, and I think we can use this win to start making a run."

The Bombers took an early lead, wasting little time by loading the bases with zero outs in the top of the first. Right fielder Brett Squires and shortstop Kalae Harrison each snagged RBIs, scoring second baseman Daniel Altman and first baseman Shelby Becker, respectively, to put the navy and gold up by two. Victoria scratched one back in the next half inning but couldn't bring their other baserunner home.

Brazos Valley's offensive carnage continued in the top of the second. Left fielder Drew Collins hit an absolute bomb over the right-center wall, scoring himself and designated hitter Trevor Davis. Center fielder Grayson Tatrow did the same just three batters later, bringing in himself and Becker to put the Bombers up 6-1 with his first out-of-the-park shot of the season.

In the top of the seventh, Squires solidified his role as the night's Player of the Game, scoring another three runs with a bases-loaded double; Becker, Tatrow and third baseman Troy Viola crossed home on the hit.

The right fielder said differences at the plate in the last 24 hours alone ultimately led to success for the team.

"Our barrels were really falling," Squires said. "Yesterday, we were hitting a lot of balls hard, but they went right to people. Tonight, they were either in the gap or completely over the fence, and we won by a lot."

The Bombers bullpen came together to demonstrate near-absolute dominance on the mound. Five pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts while allowing only six hits across the nine innings played. Starter Carson Atwood led the night by retiring four at the plate, and relief man Johnson had a standout showing with a perfect eighth inning in which he struck out all three batters faced. The rotation's overall ERA wrapped up the night in a neat bow, coming out to an astounding 1.00 ERA.

Johnson said the entire pitching squad worked in unison with a common mindset to establish an attitude of dominance.

"We really pounded the zone," Johnson said. "We knew we had the stuff to beat them. It was just a matter of throwing it in the zone and making them swing the bat. We did that tonight, and it led to success."

The Bombers came out on top of every possible statistic of the evening, including runs, RBIs, drawn walks, hits and strikeouts thrown.

Final Lines:

BVB:

2 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 10 9 1

GENS:

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1

With Saturday's series finale in the record books, Brazos Valley climbs to a 16-17 record while Victoria falls to 15-15-1 on the season, keeping the two teams locked in a neck-and-neck race within the TCL standings.

The Bombers will return to action Tuesday, July 20 as they kick off a three-game homestand at Edible Field against the league-leading San Antonio Flying Chanclas. The series opener will mark the return of Brazos Valley's Trivia Tuesday celebration, featuring entertaining team discount opportunities at every turn.

For tickets and updates on the Bombers 2021 season, fans are encouraged to call (979) 779-PLAY or visit www.bvbombers.com. To follow all upcoming news and developments for the Brazos Valley Bombers, follow the team on facebook.com/bvbombers, Twitter: @BV_Bombers and Instagram: @bvbombers.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 17, 2021


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