After opening TRAC with a 6-3 win over Clovis High, the Buchanan Bears baseball team shook off the short turnaround for a resounding 7-2 win over Clovis West away from home.
While Clovis West battled throughout the night, the Bears pitching staff proved a mountain too tough to climb.
“They have outstanding pitching –– two of the three guys that pitched last night are Div. I college guys,” Clovis West head coach Kevin Patrick said, “so, we knew we’d have to scratch and claw to score some runs. Our recipe for success has been pitching and defense and we were a little sloppy in both areas last night.”
Although the Bears only collected eight hits, they were able to score seven runs in the contest. Seniors Jacob King and Miguel Ortiz each had two RBI’s, but Jack Bengston’s all-around performance gave the Bears the boost they needed offensively.
Bengston went 2-for-3, including two runs, two hits and an RBI. His patient approach at the plate culminated in a win for the Bears, in what is so far a strong campaign.
Buchanan is 10-1 and 2-0 in the TRAC.
For the Golden Eagles, a momentum swing in the bottom of the fourth inning wasn’t enough fuel to overcome Buchanan. The Bears scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles had a reply in the bottom of the fourth after Gordon Vaughn drove in Chauncey Turney.
Clovis West took the momentum back from the Bears but couldn’t keep hold as the Bears scored two in the top of the fifth inning.
Buchanan scored three more runs in the final two innings, sending Clovis West into an 0-2 hole in the TRAC.
“We just need to finish games. We’ve been in every game and had some tough losses,” Patrick said. “We need to find a way to finish. I’m confident we will,” Patrick said.
Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles are giving players varsity experience for the first time. It’s a learning process for some, but once they begin to click and work on the diamond, with a little patience, the Golden Eagles will be back on the right path.
“We just need to continue to get better every day,” Patrick said. “Most of our guys are getting their first varsity at bats and innings this year. It’s a process, but I’m confident that we will start playing good baseball.”