Liberty bangs way to NSL-opening win
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Liberty’s Gage Arter swings at a pitch during a dominating victory over the Sierra Chieftains in North Sequoia League play. Arter was 4-for-5 in the game with three runs scored, five RBIs and a double.
The Liberty Hawks baseball team sent 16 batters to the plate in a 12-run second inning for a convincing North Sequoia League victory over the Sierra-Tollhouse Chieftains.
The reigning Div. V Central Section champions banged out 19 hits for a 24-6 victory Monday.
Seven different Hawks had two or more hits in the game, highlighted by Gage Arter’s four. He had a double with three singles to score three runs and drive in five more. Chase Schellenger drove in four runs and scored four runs. Bradley Moon scored three runs and Trevor Porter was three-for-three with three RBIs. No. 9 batter Jakson Bucher was two-for-two with four runs scored.
Hawks’ ace Nathanael Samarin was solid in his third appearance of the season. He picked up the win while allowing two hits over three innings with three strikeouts. Samarin, a three-time All-Madera Tribune team member, also was 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored.
The Hawks got the game started on the right foot. Bradley Moon led off the bottom of the first with a single and stole second. Schellenger reached on an error, but Moon was thrown out trying to score.
After a groundout, Quaid Copher walked and Arter followed with a double to deep right-center to drive in Copher and Schellenger. Cardoza singled and Porter singled home Arter for a 3-0 lead.
In the second, Liberty broke the game open. Bucher led off with a single and Moon reached on an error. A balk put runners at second and third.
Schellenger doubled to right-center to drive in Bucher and Moon. Samarin tripled to deep left-center to drive in Schellenger. Copher was hit by a pitch and Arter singled home Samarin.
Cardoza kept the rally going with a single and Porter singled home Copher and Arter.
Bucher drew a walk. After a strikeout, Schellenger singled home Cardoza and Samarin walked to force in Porter. Copher was hit by a pitch to force in Bucher and Arter followed with a two-run single driving in Schellenger and Samarin for a 15-0 lead.
Liberty kept the runs coming in a three-runs third inning. Porter led off with a single, but was forced at second by Shawn Williams. Bucher was hit by a pitch and a wild pitch advanced the runners 90 feet. Moon struck out, but reached on a wild pitch as Williams scored.
Schellenger singled home Bucher and Samarin singled. Copher reached on an error while Moon scored for an 18-0 lead.
Liberty loaded the bases in the fourth, but didn’t add to its total.
However, the Hawks made up for it with a six-run fifth. Israel Mendoza struck out, but reached on a wild pitch. Arter singled and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Johnny Carillo walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Dominic Oberti grounded out, but Mendoza scored.
Bucher followed with a single up the middle to drive in Arter. Moon reached on an infield single to drive in Carillo and Schellenger walked to re-load the bases.
Rylan Howe had the big hit with a triple to right-center to drive in Bucher, Moon and Schellenger for the 24th run of the game.
The Chieftains scored four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh off of five hits and four errors for the 24-6 final.
