Girouard's Return, Strong Pitching Lead Pump Jacks

Published on July 17, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Tyler Girouard may have changed his physical appearance but his smooth swing was the difference maker for the Pump Jacks in a 2-0 win against the Acadiana Cane Cutters Tuesday night. Girouard missed the last three weeks after needing an appendectomy and returned to Kilgore with a fresh haircut and a trimmed beard.

The second-year Pump Jack came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners at first and second base with two outs. Girouard then fisted a 1-2 pitch into centerfield that scored Taylor Murphy to put East Texas ahead 1-0.

The next batter, Justin Wall, pinch hitting for new Pump Jack Damion Lovato, pieced together one of the best at-bats of the night, working the count full before lining a single to right-center field that scored RJ Santigate from third base to extend the lead to 2-0.

The 2-run inning would be all East Texas would need to secure its 27th victory of the season and its third shutout of the year. The Pump Jacks pitching staff held a potent Cane Cutters lineup in check, retiring the last 15 batters of the game.

Cameron Gann, making his first start since June 3 after a move to the bullpen, had his longest and arguably his best outing of the season. Gann worked five innings scattering just three hits and striking out a season-high five Cane Cutters. The righty out of Stephen F. Austin allowed only one runner to advance into scoring position during another strong outing by a Pump Jacks starting pitcher.

Gann would give way to Jacob Yanker, who was making his debut in a Pump Jacks uniform. Yanker (1-0) made a debut that left fans at Driller Park in awe. The right-hander out of the University of Texas-Tyler struck all three batters he faced in the sixth inning doing so on just nine pitches. Yanker worked two perfect innings, throwing 16 of 19 pitches for strikes, to earn the win.

Gerardo Esquivel pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning that set the stage for Jason Jester. The all-time TCL saves leader would continue his dominance against opposing hitters, striking out two batters in a flawless ninth inning to earn his 16th save of the season.

Two East Texas hitters extended streaks and continued their hot-hitting versus Acadiana. Murphy's single in the sixth inning made it the ninth time in the last ten games that the freshman out of Pacific has hit safely in a Pump Jacks game. Santigate also singled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to four games.

Head coach Ben Taylor and the rest of the Pump Jacks are more than thrilled by Girouard's return, who also made a couple key defensive plays at second base. Girouard completed his return to the lineup going 2-4 with an RBI and a stolen base that gave the Pump Jacks a victory on consecutive days for the first time since June 27 and 28.

East Texas hosts the Brazos Valley Bombers tomorrow night as a part of Western Wednesday, featuring barbeque nachos and Ziegenbock beer at the concession stand. Two nights later is another Fireworks Friday, with a postgame fireworks show set to a unique soundtrack presented by SWEPCO and CBS-19 when the Pump Jacks face the Victoria Generals.

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

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 17, 2012


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