NO UMPS = PRACTICE GAME
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
As the clock passed 4 p.m. without umps at both the JV and Varsity field, it became evident that a snafu had taken place with umpire scheduling. Coach Muniz consulted with the Franklin Head Coach and they agreed to continue as a practice game. The enthusiasm slipped a few notches, but the coaching staff did their best to keep the players very engaged in the game and the fundamentals.
Unofficially Tracy won 7-5 and the pitching responsibilities were split between Jake Tyler, David Madrid, and Kayden Mattos.
DOGS TAKE JAGS TWICE
Tracy got very good pitching on Thursday in both games and were able to take down the Kimball Jaguars. Game 1 would not be easy but in Game 2 they cruised.
Game 1: Tracy would jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first when Elijah Gutierrez doubled and scored on an error hit by Tony Romano. Romano would eventually score with aggressive baserunning and a fielder choice hit by Jake Tyler.
Wyatt Brandt kept the Jaguars out of scoring position until the 3rd inning when the Jaguars would tie the game. Numerous scoring opportunities then presented themselves for both teams but the critical outs were made when they needed to be and the game would go to extra innings after each team produced a run in the 7th.
Brandt would have one of his best starts going 6+ innings and allowing just 3 unearned runs, and 4 strikeouts. David Madrid came in for some pressure packed relief in the 7th and 8th and got the win.
Tracy was able to finally get the win in Game 1 when Nolan Wortham and David Goularte started off the bottom of the 8th with walks. Gabe Jarata pinch ran for Wortham and would score the winning run on a Tony Romano hit to right field.
Romano was 3-5 with 2RBIs, a double, and 2 runs scored to lead the Bulldogs. Goularte was 2-3, and Madrid was 2-4. Gutierrez and Jason Campbell also doubled.
Game 2:
This game was controlled by the Bulldogs quickly as Jake Tyler confidently took the mound and showed he was in charge for the duration of the game. Tyler would only allow 1 hit and garner 5 strikeouts in the 17 batters he faced through 5 innings of play.
Tracy would put 9 runs on the board in the first inning and force a pitching change as the walks and hits mounted up. Elijah Gutierrez would single and double in the inning. Bryce Corell would produced a RBI single in the 4th to give Tracy their 10th and final run of the game.
The Bulldogs only got 5 hits in this game but it was enough. Gutierrez was 2-3 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Romano was again hot going 2-2 with 2 RBIs, and Corell's hit was the 5th Bulldog hit of the game.
VARSITY JACKED UP IN 5-3 WIN
March 9, 2024
1|2|3|4|5|6|7| R | H | E
Antelope Titans 2|0|0|0|0|1|x| 3 | 5 | 1
Tracy Bulldogs 1|0|0|0|2|2|x| 5 | 6 | 0
There were no storms today, but there was plenty of electricity in the air as Antelope and Tracy played in an emotionally charged game. The Bulldogs got the win coming back from a 2-1 deficit to score 2 in the 5th and 2 in the 6th. They also got very good defense in the final outs of the game to preserve a hard fought win.
While it was nice to see a lot of team spirit on both sides, it came at a cost for both teams as several players in this game were ejected for unsportsmanlike behavior.
After starting with 2 outs, Antelope would get on the board in the first inning when they worked two walks, generated 2 hits and also scored on a passed ball. After a rough first inning, David Madrid would cruise in the 2nd through 4th innings limiting Antelope to just one single.
Meanwhile on offense Tracy took advantage of four straight walks in their first at bats which allowed David Goularte to score. Unfortunately, Tracy would get nothing else done with the bases loaded.
Tracy had another opportunity to score in the 2nd inning but the Antelope defense made a play at the plate on Wyatt Brandt to thwart a run.
In the 3rd Tracy had another scoring opportunity as Ronin Contreras singled with 1 out. A fielder choice at first and Contreras being ruled out at the plate after a collision ended another Tracy chance at a run.
With the score still 2-1, Tracy continued to try to tie the game but pinch runner Jason Campbell was stranded at 3rd to conclude the inning.
Jake Tyler would start the 5th on the mound and had a 1-2-3 inning with 2 strikeouts and a fly out.
Things began to heat up in the bottom of the 5th as Elijah Gutierrez singled with 1 out and stole 2nd. Tony Romano would be hit by a pitch and Ryan Torres worked a two out walk. Gutierrez stole 3rd on a very close play at the bag. Campbell came up big with a RBI to right scoring both Gutierrez and Romano to give Tracy a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the 6th, Tyler efficiently worked the Antelope lineup giving up just one walk in the inning.
Tracy would add on in their half of the 6th but they had to do it with 2 outs. Goularte and Gutierrez singled then Romano reached on an error and the wild throw scored Goularte and Gutierrez to make it 5-2 Tracy.
With the umpires working feverishly to control both dugouts at this point, Tyler would face three batters in the inning allowing a walk, a hit batter, and a double. With the go ahead run at the plate, Coach Muniz placed Wyatt Brandt in the game to shut things down. Brandt and the Tracy defense forced back to back fielders choice and a fly out to right to preserve the victory.
Coaches Comments Postgame: "We are still not getting the timely hits, but thankfully the defense and great pitching is keeping us in these games and we are fortunate to be 4-2. It was nice to finally get a successful bunt down after numerous attempts over the past couple of weeks."
"With regard to the emotion in the game, I actually loved the intensity and it's okay to have an exciting game, but we obviously crossed the line at times and it was dealt with. I will not tolerate that and I'm confident that our long postgame meeting with the team will prevent another like situation," said Muniz.
Goularte 3AB, 2R, 2H, 0RBI, 1BB
Gutierrez 3AB, 2R, 2H, 0RBI, 1BB, 2SB
Mattos
Romano 2AB, 1R, 0H, 0RBI, 1BB, HBP, 1SB
Contreras 1AB, 0R, 1H, 1RBI, 1BB
Tyler 1AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Torres 2AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI, 1BB
Corell 1AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI, 1BB
Campbell 1AB, 0R, 1H, 2RBI, 0BB
Wortham 2AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Brandt 2AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI, HBP
Jacobo 1AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Godoy 2Ab, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Pitching:
Madrid 4 IP, 2R, 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 4K, 54 pitches
Tyler 2 IP, 1R, 1H, 1ER, 2BB, 4K, 41 pitches
Brandt 1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0ER, 0BB, 0K, 7 pitches
VARSITY BATS ASLEEP IN 3-1 LOSS
February 28, 2024
Varsity 1|2|3|4|5|6|7| R | H | E
Atwater Falcons 0|0|1|1|1|0|0 3 | 7 | 1
Tracy Bulldogs 1|0|0|0|0|0|0 1 | 2 | 2
Two hits on the day is cause for concern, and so far this season the majority of the varsity lineup has yet to find its mojo. The Bulldogs have only generated 11 hits in 3 games so far. Aside from a Tony Romano double to start the game and his eventual score on a passed ball, there was not much to get excited about in this fast moving 1 hour and 35 minute game on Wednesday played under great weather conditions.
Jace Johnson started the game and Atwater was able to manufacture runs in the 3, 4th, and 5th innings. Jake Tyler came in for 3 innings to keep Atwater in check the rest of the way. The Falcons were able to put pressure on the Tracy pitching by placing runners on base in every inning except the 7th.
"The lack of offensive production is likely putting pressure on our guys who take the mound. I'm sure they feel they need to be near perfect and we need to relieve them of that perception," said Coach Muniz. "Jace gave it everything he had today and while not perfect, I'm confident he will rebound and give us a solid performance the next time the ball is in his hand. I liked his attitude after the game when he told me he was ready to tackle his next assignment."
Coach Muniz was pleased with the relief performance of Jake Tyler. "He pitched well last Saturday versus Alameda and continued that rhythm today relieving Jace in the 5th. I liked his composure and confidence. He has a nice breaking ball and a knuckle change-up."
"I'm hopeful we can fix our batting woes soon and get some offensive rhythm started up and down the lineup. I'm crossing my fingers and optimistic we will play Saturday here in the valley even though we have a major mountain storm coming into California," said Muniz.
Romano 3AB, 1R, 1H, 0RBI, 2B
Goularte 2AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI, 1BB, SB
Gutierrez 3AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Contreras 3AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI, HBP, SB
Jarata 2AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Godoy 1AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Torres 2AB, 0R, 1H, 0RBI, HBP
Wortham 1AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Campbell 1AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Brandt 2AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Jacobo 0AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Karle 2AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Giannini 1AB, 0R, 0H, 0RBI
Pitching
Johnson 4+ IP, 3R, 6H, 6K, 2BB
Tyler 3 IP (entered with 1 on in the 5th) 0R, 1H, 2K, 0BB, 2HBP
WALK-OFF IN 8
February 24, 2024
1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8| R|H|E
Alameda Hornets 0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0| 0|6|0
Tracy Bulldogs 0|0|0|0|0|0|0|1| 1|5|1
The Bulldog pitching was outstanding holding the Hornets to no runs through 8 innings. This gave Tracy enough time to win it on an Elijah Gutierrez walk-off double to score David Goularte from first base in the bottom of the 8th (with game time limit coming up).
"I read fastball pretty much down the middle and crushed it. I knew we had won it when it left my bat," said Gutierrez postgame. 10 second video here. Tracy was down to their final two outs when Elijah stepped into the box, so the margin for error was slim otherwise Game 1 was headed to a tie.
In February baseball it is not uncommon to see a lot of walks and pitchers getting in trouble, but not this game. The trio of Jace Johnson, Wyatt Brandt, and Jake Tyler delivered no runs, 11 strikeouts, and only 3 walks in the 8 inning nail biter.
"Gutierrez could not have started any better on opening day," said Coach Muniz. The confident THS Junior went 3 for 3 delivering the sole run while also taking a walk on the day. He would double twice and collect 4 stolen bases.
Credit has to also be given to the Alameda pitching staff who limited Tracy to just two other hits (Tony Romano and Jason Campbell). David Goularte had two stolen bases and walked once.
GOULARTE HOMERS IN 12-0 WIN
No photos today as the rain forced me to put the cameras away.
Both teams fought through the rain in the first two innings, but as the precipitation let up, the Tracy bats lit up. In the top of the 3rd, Elijah Gutierrez led off and was hit by a pitch. David Goularte came up and launched a ball over the left field fence to put Tracy up 2-0. This was the first homerun of the year for the Dogs and the first for Goularte in his short varsity career to date as a Sophomore. Tony Romano would reach on an error and then Ryan Torres doubled him in to go up 3-0.
In the 4th the Bulldogs would plate 7 runs on good hitting and a series of Kimball miscues. Juan Godoy singled, Gutierrez had a bunt single. Both Bulldogs would score on wild pitches. Dylan Giannini doubled and would eventually score on another wild pitch to make it 6-0. Torres, Malakai Jacobo, and Jason Campbell scored unearned runs later in the inning.
In the 5th and final inning, Tracy would get 2 more runs on a Nolan Wortham single that scored Wyatt Irwin who had reached on a walk earlier. Josh Giuliacci who also had walked, scored on an error in the same play on Wortham's single.
Tracy continued their trend of getting good pitching and defense in today's shutout.
Coaches Comments:
"We had good pitching today by our trio of pitchers," said Coach Muniz. "David Madrid pitched the first two scoreless innings striking out 3. Jace Johnson then did the same gathering 3 strikeouts and allowing just the one Kimball hit of the game. Jake Tyler would complete the final inning striking out the side."
"I look forward to seeing these guys pitch in league, but I'm also hoping to get Ronin Contreras, Wyatt Brandt back in the mix along with others in our pitching staff."
"It's go time for league. so I know our players are excited to get into it and get going on Monday at home versus Lincoln"