CALIFORNIA - A seven-run first inning ultimately proved to be too deep of a hole for the Pintos to climb out from, as they dropped their Tri-County Conference opener against Hallsville 13-3 in a run-ruled shorten game.
"Hallsville is a good ball club," said California coach Jason Gatlin. "We just got outplayed tonight. They found the holes and we couldn't seem to get a break, and some times that happens."
The first three batters reached to load the bases with no outs for the Indians (2-3, 2-0 Tri-County Conference), then Tom German grounded out to score Jabe McGee and Joe Forge doubled to right field to plate two more runs.
"Early, the strike zone was pretty small and it got in (Landon Mouse's) head a little bit," said Gatlin. "We've had this issue before when we played Hallsville last year. They got up on us 7-0 in the first inning and we ended it 7-4; didn't let them score another run. Tonight they scored a few more runs after the first inning."
Later in the inning, Cole McGee reached on a fielder's choice to score Forge. Blake Calvert singled to put runners on first and second with two outs, then the nine-hole hitter, Justin Hendren, hit a three-run homerun to center field to bring the score to 7-0.
"I asked my kids, "who got off the bus? Because I don't remember these same kids,'" said Hallsville coach Blake Koeneke. "We haven't hit quite like that yet this year, so it's refreshing."
California (2-2, 0-1) added three runs in the third, but not before the Indians added a run in the top half of the inning. Calvert hit a sacrifice fly to score Nathan Proctor.
"We're not going to be passive and wait for too many pitches," said Koeneke. "We were aggressive on balls that were in the strike zone. Their starting pitcher was struggling a little bit in the beginning, walked a couple, then when he got the ball in the zone, our best hitters went after it."
In the bottom half of third, California's Greg Schroeter walked to start off the inning, then Eli Freeman sacrificed him over to second. After another out, Mouse singled to left to score Schroeter, then Jaden Barr singled to center to score Mouse. Barr scored on a Jackson Trachsel single to shallow right field to cut the lead to 8-3.
Max Belsheim started on the hill for the Indians, pitching five innings, giving up three runs on six hits. Belsheim struck out four and walked only one.
"We've talked about having a presence out there, and he got the idea in his last time out about his attitude, how to behave on the mound and what he expected out of himself," said Koeneke.
Once it looked like the Pintos settled into the game, Hallsville put another crooked number on the board, scoring five in the fifth inning.
After a single by German and a Garret Vincent walk, Cole McGee singled to score German and advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder. Calvert hit a shot up the middle to score Proctor and McGee to extend its lead to 11-3.
After a couple more singles by Hendren and Jabe McGee, Brukett slapped a ball to center field to bring home Calvert and Hendren.
"It's frustrating when they find the holes like that," said Gatlin. "There's nothing you can do about it. It's the game of baseball and some times that's just the way it goes."
Barr and Mouse led the Pintos on offense, each hitting 2-for-3 on the evening. Also, they each recorded an RBI and a run scored, and Barr had a stolen base.
"We'll put it behind us, we'll have a good practice tomorrow and we'll go play on Thursday," said Gatlin.
Weather permitting, the Pintos host Clinton on Thursday at 5 p.m.