Cordova Baseball Preparing for Home Stretch
Apr 20, 2017 12:00AM ● By By Mike Bush
Cordova's Ryan Tipton races toward home plate against Redwood Christian in a pool play game on April 11th . Tipton and the Cordova baseball team resumed SVC action on Wednesday. -- Photo by Mike Bush
One more game at its own tournament was on the agenda for the Cordova High School baseball team last week. But once again, Mother Nature had a say in the Lancers’ games.
On April 12th, Cordova was supposed to have played Menlo of Atherton in the 47th annual Cordova Baseball Easter Tournament at Peterson Field. But rain and field conditions wiped out the Lancers’ final game. Cordova head coach Doug Hughes decided to cancel the rest of the tournament that included Menlo, plus Rosemont, Mesa Verde, Redwood Christian, Merced, Enterprise of Redding and Sanger. With the tournament in the books, Hughes and the Lancers turn their attention back to Sierra Valley Conference action. Cordova (5-3 in the SVC, 8-8) is in the middle of the race that includes being tied for second place with El Dorado (5-3 in the SVC, 12-6) and sitting alone in first place is Liberty Ranch (8-0 in the SVC, 13-5).
“I (don’t) think anyone (will) run away with the league title,” said Hughes going into Wednesday’s SVC game against Union Mine (3-5 in the SVC). “All of the teams in the SVC will beat up on each other for the next three weeks. We are up for the challenge and looking forward to it.”
As a team, the Lancers are batting .350. Leading the way at the plate is senior Logan Appino, who is batting .604 with 10 RBIs. Trevor Ready follows at .405 and Jeremy Buck .400 and 12 RBIs.
On the mound, Austin Smith has a 2-2 record for Cordova. That includes a 2.75 ERA and 23 strikeouts. Appino follows with 12 strikeouts, 2.80 ERA and 1-3, and Ryan Tipton 2-1 and 12 strikeouts. On Wednesday, Cordova hosted El Dorado. Yesterday, Thursday, Cordova played at Union Mine.
Today, Friday, the Lancers play at El Dorado. Cordova continues conference play at Peterson Field against Galt (0-8 in the SVC) next Wednesday, and play the Warriors again, this time in Galt, on Friday, April 28th. Game times are scheduled for 4 p.m.
“As a team, we can accomplish anything,” Hughes said. “I can’t express how proud I am of these kids. From last year to this year it’s like night and day. Not having a JV program the last couple of years, our underclassmen have had to step up and be a huge part of our success, which they have. I’m extremely proud of them. The last seven games should be exciting.”
