Sims takes control early, spoils Falcons
chances of getting a foot up on playoffs
With three games left on the season, Jersey Village post season hopes hang in the balance. The Falcons need to win two out of their last three games and look for help from other teams to enter the playoffs.
With the bases loaded, Brian Lesmeister took a pitch off his leg as teammate Jared Lakind cross the plate for the winning run.
“It was a team effort, Sims threw a great game, everybody made plays in the field we just did our job,” said Cy-Woods third Baseman Cody Dickerson.
Matt Simms struck out 11 batters and pitched six complete innings as the Cy-Woods Wildcats (20-7-1) (District: 11-3) run ruled The Jersey Village Falcons 11-0 Friday night at the Falcons Baseball field.
“The last two times I threw, my arms been tired, I’m a position player at short stop also. It’s a lot of stress on my arm but this week I took it easy in practice and my arm felt a lot better. I was hitting my spots my curve ball worked well except for the last inning when I hit those two batters, “said Cy-Woods Pitcher Matt Sims.
The game was stopped after the bottom of the sixth inning due to the 10 run mercy rule.
After the Falcons Alex Lator retired the first two batters Jared Lakind hit a routine grounder to first that appeared to be the third out but instead the ball went under Mason Mullen’s glove into right field leaving the window of opportunity open. Lator then walked Cody Dickerson and Brian Smith to load the bases, setting up the early run, walking Lakind home as the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead.
“Well we’ve been struggling a little bit here of late, the last couple of weeks. Today was really nice to see our guys swing the bats. We put multiple runners on base; we got big hits and a very well pitched game by Matt Sims tonight. So we put it all together in a position we haven’t been putting ourselves in and to come out tonight on the road against a team who’s battling for a playoff spot. I’m real proud of the way we came out today,” said Cy-Woods Head Coach.
Two of the eleven Wildcats runs were opposite field home runs launched by Cody Dickerson and Brian Smith.
“Our guys are learning that they can go opposite field,’ said Cy-Woods Head Coach.
Lakind led off the top of the third with a double down the first base line and scored on Cody Dickerson’s single to right field. Brian Smith hammered a single to short stop Rodriguez who couldn’t handle the sharply hit ball. Brian Lesmeister singled to left field, loading the bases for Matt Sims who walked on four balls, scoring Dickerson to increase the lead 4-0.
“It’s a disappointing lost, we knew we had three games left and had to win two of three to have a chance. Obviously we’d like to get all three. Lator (tonight’s losing pitcher) had been pretty consistent he won two big games for us against Cy-Fair and Cy-Falls and this is probably his most disappointing outing as far as velocity and control, he just didn’t have it. It didn’t matter with that guy on the mound (speaking of winning Pitcher Matt Sims) he was on his game and it was tough for us to get anything going,” said Jersey Village Coach Robb Jensen.
Jersey Village (8-12-1) (District:7-8-0) Freshman Catcher Robby Rojas was a bright spot for the Falcons collecting two hits and throwing out short stop Nick Marsh attempting to steal second.
I asked Rojas about his play tonight. “I felt really good tonight, starting to hit the ball again. I threw out a guy and got two hits. But we have to work hard as a team, come out and try hard every day,” said Jersey Village Catcher Robby Rojas.