Hawk’s Walk-Off Win over Devine Wins Marion Tournament
Champions of the Marion Tournament: Canyon Lake Hawks!!
Canyon Lake was relentless in win over Devine, 4-3, as the Hawks took 1st Place in the Marion Tournament.
This will be recorded as the first tournament championship in Baseball for the Hawks after winning 3 games with just one loss to take the Trophy. This third win would mark the best start in CL’s history now standing with a 3-1 record in starting this season.
Way to GO HAWKS!!
Last year, Canyon Lake broke a long drought of not qualifying for a playoff spot and what was even more impressive was how Canyon Lake manufactured runs for a club that had a team, .217 batting average. The Hawks was that first wave of manufacturing jobs that seemed very Trumpish in how USA has revived manufacturing jobs.
“It is always good to be the home team because it gives you the last crack,” Head Baseball Coach Victor Escamilla said after this dramatic walk-off victory.
On what was the thinking in fighting from behind and facing a pitcher that was throwing strikes, “I wanted us to still be aggressive with our bats….this was a fast paced game and Matt (Anderson) did well as he started fresh and that was the key.”
This tournament had the first day with each team playing 3 games, which has a way of draining a pitching staff. Anderson was called on to start this contes and he went 5 innings and that found CL down by just one run with anything being possible.
In this battle with the WarHorses, CL fought from behind after a Devine 2 run 4th inning, The Lake would cut that advantage in half in the bottom of the 4th and then tied the game in that next inning.
The trifecta was present on this day with Fielding, Timely Hitting, and Pitching keeping Canyon Lake within striking distance and an eventual win in that last inning.
That first inning displayed CL’s fielding prowess, after Devine started the game with a double and having that runner advancing to 3rd with a sacrifice bunt.
Canyon City Grill says Go Hawks!!
With one out, Canyon Lake brought their infield in halfway which allowed 2nd Baseman Tyler Pauly to freeze the base runner on third and get the 2nd out. Then another ground out to Pauly gave Devine a goose-egg to start the game.
The Hawks would strand CL’s Pauly on second after a double as this game would become a pitching dual for the first 3 innings.
This contest was played quickly, as both teams reached the 6th inning, before the 90 minute span allowed during Tournament play would be up.
Devine would draw first blood in that 4th inning with a lead-off single, then after a sacrifice, another single would plate their first run. The WarHorses were not finished and added a double two batters later for a 2-run inning and lead.
Canyon Lake responded in the bottom half, with a lead off single by Mason Lee and then another single by Brandon Robinson that put runners in scoring position. A passed ball moved the Hawks up a base and then Lee would use his baseball IQ by stealing home after a ground out for CL’s first run.
All-Tournament Cale Claycomb, Tanner Schultz, and Tournament MVP Caleb Williams!
The Lake would strike again in the 5th with a one-out single off the bat of James LaLonde which was followed by two consecutive walks loading the bases. A Pauly fielders choice would plate LaLonde to tie the game.
This ping-pong match continued when Devine made short order of being tied and breaking the deadlock the next inning with Tanner Schultz taking the mound. A fly out started this inning and then a single would be a prelude before the fireworks would start.
Devine flied out and their next batter would work a walk before a slow grounder for a single that had an errant throw to first base that plated Devine’s 3rd run. Schultz still had work to do as the Hawks intentionally walked the bases loaded for a force out on any base.
Pitcher turned Third-Baseman, Anderson would take the grounder in getting that 3rd out and keeping the damage still within striking range and a. 3-2 Devine lead.
Schultz had a 10 pitch 3 up and 3 down seventh inning that gave CL one last chance in needing one run for extra innings or 2 runs and a win and go home ending.
Schultz was awarded an All-Tournament award after garnering 2 wins for the Hawks.
“It makes you feel good,” Schultz said after responding to how fun this tournament turned out and having a good defensive game being played while on the mound. “Yeah, that takes your confidence way up…I like to start games and just throw strikes and let the defense make plays.”
Go Hawks!!
Ethan Slater started CL off with a full count walk after the Devine Pitcher started this at bat with a quick two strike situation. Slater would not succumb and worked out of the 0-2 count and fighting off a foul to keep the at bat going. That 7th pitch of this at bat would send Slater to first with a lead-off walk.
This was vintage Slater after an on base percentage last year at .435 in carrying a .188 batting average. This walk would be the start in how to manufacture runs, however CL might be poised for a better hitting year as these players being a year older might allow for a better hitting IQ and chances for more production.
Enter, Tournament MVP Caleb Williams, who had been striking the ball with some degree of authority through-out this tournament and with a two pitch triple that would score Slater in tying the score, 3-3.
“I was thinking 3 all the way,” Williams said after commenting his thoughts on his triple. “As soon as I saw the ball go off the glove and he (Warhorse outfielder) was going backwards, I knew I could make it.”
On Williams thoughts on starting the season from the plate, “I am seeing the ball really well but there is always room for improvement and defensively, I just want to make plays.”
Go Canyon Lake!!
Now with the infield in and Williams on 3rd base, Mason Lee needed contact and that was accomplished with a high chopper to Devine’s 2nd baseman that would score, the Speedster, Williams for a Hawk winning walk-off run.
Pitching was evident, when Claycomb joined Schultz in being awarded with an All-Tournament Award after winning the 2nd game on Thursday against the Host School.
“I couldn’t locate my fastball,” Claycomb stated when asked bout his play and showing he is not satisfied…just yet. “As soon as I saw my fast ball was off….I could still get everything (pitches) else over the plate.”
On his feeling and how this team looks completely different over the past two years, “It means a lot because we have gone through a transformation and it feels good.”
The First Championship and a 3-1 start to this year’s campaign, Good Job Hawks!!
Canyon Lake has a way of showing off against this Devine school as the last time CL had this type of success was a 2 game sweep of their Bi-District game during the 2010 season against???? Devine!!
Way to Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Devine 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 7 0 CL Hawks 0 0 0 1 1 0 *2 4 7 1 (*One out when winning run scored) ab r h bi 2b 3b bb so sb misc Caleb Williams 3 1 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 Mason Lee 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 Tyler Pauly 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 Brandon Robinson 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 Tanner Schultz 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Tanner Sellers 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 hbp Matt Anderson 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Cale Claycomb 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 James LaLonde 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ethan Slater 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals 25 4 7 3 1 1 3 7 3 Pitching ip h r er bb so W L Matt Anderson 5.0 4 2 2 1 4 0 0 Tanner Schultz 2.0 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 Pitches-Strikes: Matt Anderson 64-40 Tanner Schultz 30-16 Wild Pitch: Matt Anderson Hit Batter: Matt Anderson
