Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
An excellent pitching performance by Titans right-hander Mark Pircher stifled the Lackland Warhawks Varsity Baseball Team last week.
The Titans won their seventh-straight game and remained undefeated as they beat the Warhawks 10-3 in the San Antonio Men's Senior Baseball League (Open Division) April 27 at the University of the Incarnate Word, Sullivan Field.
Pircher struck out 14 and gave up just one run, one walk and three hits during seven innings against the Warhawks.
"Mark throws a fast ball and a little curve ball," said Greg Willett, Warhawks outfielder and assistant coach. "He always gets ahead in the count."
At the beginning, the game looked as if it would become a pitching duel between Lackland starting pitcher Nate Zimmerman and Pircher. Both teams went three-up and three-down through the first two innings.
The Titans started to stir things up a little bit after they got two hits off Zimmerman during the top of the third. However, the game remained scoreless after Zimmerman got the next two batters out on ground balls.
Then, Lackland went up 1-0 during the bottom of the third. Left fielder Jason Law led off with a single. Pircher struck out third baseman Miguel Jimenez. A single up the middle by extra hitter Keith Bratton moved Law to third base. As Warhawks catcher Richard McDonald went down swinging, Bratton stole second base. When Titans catcher Kelly Skeens tried to throw out Bratton, Law bolted from third base and scored. Pircher struck out extra hitter Andrew Taylor to end the inning.
Lackland saw their slim lead vanish during the top of the fourth.
Titans shortstop Jaime Luna led off with a single, and then, center fielder Mike Hernandez belted a pitch over the center field wall to put the Titans up 2-1.
Extra fielder Drew Spencer came up next and singled. Second baseman Clint Sansom reached base on an error, and Spencer moved to third. Immediately after Zimmerman struck out first baseman Brandon Polomo, the Lackland infield caught Sansom in a rundown and forced him out of the baseline. Spencer ran home while Lackland was chasing Sansom, and that play gave the Titans a 3-1 lead.
During the bottom of the fourth, Pircher issued his only walk, to Lackland first baseman Jose Isales. However, no other Warhawk reached base during the fourth frame.
During the Titans' fifth, Pircher provided the Titans with their fourth run, as his sacrifice fly to center field drove in extra hitter Al Mow from third base.
When the Warhawks batted in the fifth, Pircher struck out Bratton and Law and allowed just one hit, a single by Jimenez.
Lackland lost its grip on the game during the sixth inning. Then, the Titans scored five runs on one Lackland throwing error, two hits and four walks.
When the Warhawks batted in the bottom of the sixth, the Titans were up 9-1. Three Warhawks faced Pircher: McDonald, Zimmerman and second baseman Mario Villarreal. Pircher struck out all three.
During the seventh inning, Pircher struck out shortstop Dominic Ortega and center fielder Keith Simon, and he got Willet out on a grounder to the mound.
The Titans added their 10th run during the top of the eighth. Spencer walked, stole second, took third on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch by Lackland reliever John Rose.
Lackland did not score their second run until the bottom of the eighth. Titans' relief pitcher Jeremy Bryner took over from Pircher, and he gave up two hits, one to Law, the other to Jimenez. A grounder by Bratton forced out Law at third base. Bryner walked right fielder Luther Lawson and Zimmerman. Jimenez scored on the walk to Zimmerman.
Lackland trailed 10-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Polomo relieved Bryner, and the southpaw promptly gave up base hits to Ortega and Willett. A wild pitch allowed Ortega to advance to third base and Willett to second. A sacrifice fly to deep center field by Rose drove in Ortega. Polomo struck out Law and Jimenez to end the game.
Despite the loss, the Lackland dugout sounded spirited after the game.
"All we have to do is calm down," Willett said. "Everybody knows that. When we keep our heads in the game, we're a tough team to play against."
Lackland is now 2-5 in the SAMSBL. The Warhawks will play the Indians on May 6, 2 p.m., at St. Mary's University, V.J. Keefe Field.