The California High School baseball teams had a busy schedule last week as the varsity played six games in six days.
"We did a good job pitching the entire week," California Coach Dwight Fitzwater said. "We just didn't play good defense. Coming into the season, I felt our defense was one of our strong points, but we aren't displaying that as of late. We could've beat any one of the teams we faced this week, had we overcome our poor defense. We did howerver win three of the six game we played, and that isn't too bad. We get Jaden Barr and Drew Norton back this week, which will give us a boost."
The Pintos hosted Hallsville April 2, where California's varsity suffered an 8-2 loss to the Indians.
"We simply didn't play good," Fitzwater said. "Our defense, which has been our stronghold, let us down. We committed four costly errors that did us in."
Hallsville score one run in the second inning and four in the fourth to lead 5-0. The Pintos brought two home in the sixth to trail 5-2. The Indians sealed the deal with three runs in the seventh to take the win, 8-2.
"We were only able to tally four hits," Fitzwater said. "The lack of offense, coupled with poor defense is going to mean a loss. That's just what happened."
Alec Koelling was the starting pitcher for California, who recorded six strikeouts. Jason Wolverton then pitched relief, and Dylan Albertson and Zach Holliday pitched relief in the final inning to finish out the game.
"Our pitching was good enough to win, if we had played better defense," Fitzwater said.
Hallsillve had eight hits to California's four. Wolverton led California hits with a double and two RBI. Tyler Silvey followed with two singles and Koelling contributed a single.
California's JV won 11-7.
California hosted Clinton Thursday, where the varsity suffered a 15-2 loss to the Cardinals.
Wolverton pitched 4 2/3 innings, while Holliday and Calen Mummert pitched relief in the last two innings.
Tyler Silvey led California hits with a two-run homer in the second inning. Randy Allee, JT Trachsel, Wolverton and Austin Gump each contributed a single.
California's JV lost 13-7 to Clinton.
The Pintos were on the road Friday for games at St. Elizabeth, where California's varsity won 7-6.
Bret Volmert recording the win for the Pintos. Eli Freeman led hits with a double and a single. Silvey had a double, while Randy Allee had two singles and one RBI. Trachsel and Brant each recorded a single and RBI.
California's JV defeated St. Elizabeth 7-2.
The Pintos traveled to Centralia Saturday, where they captured a 9-8 win against South Shelby, followed by a 12-1 loss to Centralia.
Albertson recorded the win against South Shelby for California.
"Alec Koelling started the game and pitched very good, he just didn't have good defense to support him," Fitzwater said.
Brant led California hits with a double, two singles and one RBI. Albertson had three singles and one RBI, while Allee, Wolverton and Volmert each recorded a single and RBI. Koelling chipped in with two singles.
Freeman and Holliday pitched the Centralia game. Albertson led California hits with three singles. Trachsel had two singles and Volmert recorded a single and RBI. Gump, Allee and Freeman each chipped in with a single.
The Pintos will play at Osage Thursday, beginning with the varsity game at 4:30 p.m.