Suffering their third shutout in a row, Riverbank varsity ballplayers lost to the Escalon Cougars 9-0 on Wednesday, although the Bruin boys were playing on their own diamond.
"Escalon beat us bad," admitted Bruin coach Mike Carrigg. "That's the third game we've lost 9-0. We've had a bad string. But we have been facing three of the best pitchers in the league."
Zac Swanson threw his best game to date for Riverbank. The score was 0-0 through the third inning, and then Escalon went up 2-0 in the fourth, and in the fifth the game fell apart for the Bruins.
"Swanson walked a couple of guys. We brought in (Jason) Canada to relieve him. We made a bunch of errors and could offer nothing in offense. Their pitcher (Peter) Krumeich is one of the best. We couldn't get anything going and he struck us out something like 10 times."
Riverbank collected only three hits to Escalon's 13 and made three errors compared with just one by the Cougars.
On Friday, Riverbank made somewhat of a comeback with a 10-2 win over Ripon. Drew Villalobos pitched all the way for the Bruins but the game only ran to five innings because Ripon's coach got thrown out for arguing with the officials.
The Bruins scattered 10 or 11 hits. Ted Sigiura went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a triple, and two runs scored, Ricky Perez hit a double and Eric Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs.
"That game was a relief. It's a sign we can do better," said Carrigg.
Riverbank was slated to play a home make-up game against Ripon Christian on Tuesday of this week, face Hughson away on Wednesday, and take on Patterson again at home on Friday.
"We're now 3-4 in league," said Carrigg. "I'm hoping we'll get three or at least two wins this week because we have beaten all these teams before.
"We need some wins now. The last stretch of the season, against Ripon, Hilmar, Livingston and Escalon, will be tough again.
"Escalon beat us bad," admitted Bruin coach Mike Carrigg. "That's the third game we've lost 9-0. We've had a bad string. But we have been facing three of the best pitchers in the league."
Zac Swanson threw his best game to date for Riverbank. The score was 0-0 through the third inning, and then Escalon went up 2-0 in the fourth, and in the fifth the game fell apart for the Bruins.
"Swanson walked a couple of guys. We brought in (Jason) Canada to relieve him. We made a bunch of errors and could offer nothing in offense. Their pitcher (Peter) Krumeich is one of the best. We couldn't get anything going and he struck us out something like 10 times."
Riverbank collected only three hits to Escalon's 13 and made three errors compared with just one by the Cougars.
On Friday, Riverbank made somewhat of a comeback with a 10-2 win over Ripon. Drew Villalobos pitched all the way for the Bruins but the game only ran to five innings because Ripon's coach got thrown out for arguing with the officials.
The Bruins scattered 10 or 11 hits. Ted Sigiura went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a triple, and two runs scored, Ricky Perez hit a double and Eric Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs.
"That game was a relief. It's a sign we can do better," said Carrigg.
Riverbank was slated to play a home make-up game against Ripon Christian on Tuesday of this week, face Hughson away on Wednesday, and take on Patterson again at home on Friday.
"We're now 3-4 in league," said Carrigg. "I'm hoping we'll get three or at least two wins this week because we have beaten all these teams before.
"We need some wins now. The last stretch of the season, against Ripon, Hilmar, Livingston and Escalon, will be tough again.
