RENO — Sobe-Toyota’s Josh Anderson Memorial Tournament championship hopes are still alive.
On Thursday, the Lizards knocked in a 6-run fifth inning that helped them take a 10-9 win over the Danville (Calif.) Hoots to move to 2-1 in pool play.
“It was a real big character win for us to not panic when we’re down,” Sobe-Toyota assistant Jake LeDuc said. “That Danville team is pretty good. Their first two pitchers were two of the hardest throwers we’ve seen all summer.”
Brennan Casteel went 3 for 3 from the plate with an RBI, and Peter Martin was 3-4 with a double and 2 RBIs.
One of the biggest hits in the game, however, came from Mitch Gueller in that big fifth inning. With the bases loaded and 2 runs plated already, Gueller cashed in a 3-run double. Martin followed his hit with a double to plate the inning’s final run, extending Sobe-Toyota’s lead to 8-6.
That lead would be threatened, though, in the top of the sixth, as Danville plated a run. But the Lizards responded with 2 more runs to allow some breathing room.
“We felt comfortable going into the top of the seventh,” LeDuc said. “We put some pressure on the defense, they turned around and got one back from us in the sixth to make it a 1-run game.”
The Hoots made a late run at the Lizards again, as they scored 2 runs in the top of the seventh, and had runners at first and third with just one out. But Sobe-Toyota would prevail.
“The big thing was, we came out with really good defense after a really shaky first day,” LeDuc said. “Hitters never gave up. I don’t think anyone felt we were ever out of the game.”
Sobe-Toyota (13-6) played the Medford Mustangs today at 10 a.m. with a chance at the title-game on the line.
