Assistant baseball coach George Wellman reports that a meeting on the mound with starting pitcher Lucas Klimek paid dividends as the Chester Junior-Senior High School Volcanoes continued their winning ways, prevailing 19-7 in a win versus the Portola Tigers April 27. The win moved the Vols to an overall record of 13-5 and 5-1 in league play.
After a scoreless first inning, the Tigers opened up the second inning scoring six runs on three hits, a walk and one hit by pitch, aided by two Volcanoes errors. In the bottom of the second the Vols retaliated with 12 runs on seven hits, three walks and one hit by pitch, aided by one miscue by the Tigers. What started out as a possible pitching duel after the scoreless first inning turned into a slugfest after two, the score standing 12-6, Vols leading.
The Tigers plated one run in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning the Vols pushed over six runs to take a commanding 18-7 lead. The Tigers were held scoreless in the top of fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth the Vols picked up one more run. The contest ended in the fifth with no further scoring, the final score 19-7 in the Vols’ favor.
Wellman pointed out that Kooper Clark had an outstanding day at the plate, going 3-4, two singles and a double, plating four RBIs and scoring three runs. Kooper also pitched the top of the fifth inning, closing out the game, retiring three batters on seven pitches. Lucas Klimek started on the mound, going four innings, giving up seven runs, five of which were earned, on five hits, a walk and two strikeouts on a very efficient 62 pitches to record the win. Klimek also helped his cause, going 2-5 at the plate, driving in a run.
A huge coaching statistic is on-base percentage, said Wellman, and Callan Wiseman maximized his at-bats, getting a single, two walks and one RBI, and scoring three runs. Chase Clark, not to be outdone, crossed the plate three times on two walks and a hit by pitch, stealing three bases. Talon Pleau upped his OBP with a walk and hit by pitch, scoring two runs. Caiden Clark, brother to Chase, drove in three runs on a single, walk and hit by pitch.
Jax Holland went 1-2 with a double, a walk and a hit by pitch to drive in three runs. Grady Klimet, brother to Lucas, smacked a double combined with one walk, driving in two runs. Jacob Dowling continued his solid play, going 1-3, scoring one run and driving in one. Dowling also lead the defensive effort, recording nine putouts at first base.
The Vols finished 7-1 after their last eight league games, 9-1 in the last 10 games overall.
For more details about the team, including game and season statistics, visit https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/chester/chester-volcanoes/baseball/.
Information provided by Chester Junior-Senior High School baseball team
