Jets’ bats grounded by strong pitching in Las Vegas tourney

Greg Price
Vauxhall Advance
gprice@tabertimes.com

With the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball Jets landing in Las Vegas, the squad managed to come away with a .500 record at the Bishop Gorman Tournament.

“We opened up the tournament with an exhibition game earlier, and it was good where we played well and we continued to play well in the tournament in the round-robin, where we got good pitching all the way through,” said Les McTavish, head coach of the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball Jets.

The Jets were smooth getting off the runway in the tournament by starting its run with a 5-1 win over Carse, Nevada.

Carsen Perkins was on the bump, striking out the first two batters he faced on the way to a nine-strikeout performance over five innings. The one run charged to him was unearned as he scattered tow hits and issued three walks.

Jalen Lane finished things off, going two innings, allowing two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Jets’ offence posted two runs in the first inning on its way to victory. Jordan Malainey was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Jordan Dray was 2-for 2 with a double and an RBI. Victor Cerny was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI to round out the offence.

The Jets’ offence was at cruising altitude for its second game against Alta, Utah where the Jets posted a 10-0 win, scoring in every inning in the process.

Brandon Hatley started on the mound going five innings allowing three hits, and seven strikeouts.

Offensively, the Jets spread the offense out collecting 10 hits. Matt Rath was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Shawn Grandmont was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jordan Dray was 3-for-3 with a double, triple and an RBI. Tyler Wood was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Spencer Rankin was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Liam Vulcano rounded out the offence going 1-for-1 with three RBI.

It was a pitching duel as the Jets battled the tournament hosts in Bishop Gorman, as Vauxhall came out on the short end of a 2-1 decision against the squad that would eventually win the tournament.

The Jets got three hits in the first inning, scoring a run but could not get anymore.

“When we got into that Gorman game we started facing some big arms we hadn’t faced yet this year which was an adjustment. The guy we faced Friday wasn’t just good, he was one of the best arms in the country,” said McTavish. “But it was a good game on all fronts and the coaching staff was proud of how the kids battled and handled themselves.”

Josh Burgmann started on the mound for the Jets, going five innings, allowing seven hits, one earned run, with three walks and seven strikeouts. Wesley Moore finished things off, throwing a perfect inning with a strikeout. Offensively, the Jets struck out 15 times in a strong Gorman pitching display.

“He was a really hard thrower and a strike machine. He threw 80 strikes out of 99 pitches, so he was really tough,” said McTavish. “We probably took a few too many pitches, but that being said, it’s still early in the year and it’s a learning curve. We are also missing Brett Resch who tore his hamstring the third game of the season and he’s a middle-of-the-order bat which hurts on the offensive side.”

Offensively, the Jets were led by Jordan Malainey who was 1-for-3. Jordan Dray was 2-for-3. Victory Cerny was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Damiano Palmegiani was 1-for-3 and Spencer Rankin was 1-for-3.

The Jets lost another close one in its semifinal in a 4-0 decision to Newbury Park, California as the Jets were grounded from further play.

The game was stalemated 0-0 after four innings before the Jets gave up all four of its runs in the fifth inning.

Ben Erwin started on the mound, going four innings, allowing three hits to go with four strikeouts and no walks. Bryce Fraser threw one inning, allowing four hits, four runs and one walk. K.J. Moreno finished things off, going one inning with one strikeout.

Offensively, the Jets struggled to string anything together, only mustering three hits. Victor Cerny finished the game going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Bishop Gorman went on to defeat Newbury Park 5-0 in the final to capture the championship.

Next up for the Jets is the Best of the West Tournament in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Jets will open up today against North Delta.

The Jets fly back home April 16-17 to Jets Stadium with 1 p.m. doubleheaders each day against Prairie Baseball Academy.

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