They say pitching and defense wins ball games and the Lindsay Cardinals baseball team can sure attest to that. The Cardinals advanced to the Finals of the Fowler Tournament on April 3-6 with just one game with more than three hits.
In each of their first two games of the tournament, the Cardinals got just three hits, but in each case they won behind strong pitching.
"I feel like the way we have played all year that our pitching is going to have to carry us," Lindsay coach John Morrelli said. "Our kids picked it up a little bit."
In their opener against Washington Union Lindsay made the most of their three hits scoring three times in a 3-1 win. Noe Orosco had a hit and a stolen base and scored on a base hit by Tomas Cervantes. On the mound Bernardo Lemus shutdown Washington Union surrendering just three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Abel Gamboa pitched the remainder of the game for a save.
Exeter edged Fowler 2-0 in the second game and their bats finally came to life in their third game of the tournament against Coalinga. Coming off a nine inning marathon against Washington Union, Lindsay took advantage of a weary Coalinga club for 14 hits in a 14-1 win.
Memo Orozco led the onslaught going 3-for-4 with four runs scored and Bryan Rios had four RBI. Rios also pitched all five innings of the game that was shortened by the mercy rule and allowed just two hits while striking out three.
Ironically it was the team's defense that faltered in the 11-0 loss to Kingsburg championship game. Seven errors overshadowed an otherwise strong performance from Francisco Diaz on the mound who was returning from injury. He lasted 2 2/3 innings and allowed three hits and four runs of which only two were earned.
"Our kids were a little overwhelmed in that game, they worked hard and battled to get there," Morrelli said. "We made a couple defensive mistakes and they really outplayed us that day. We didn't play our best defense."
With the tournament behind them the focus returns to the East Sequoia League where they are currently tied for second place with Dinuba at 3-2.
Softball
The struggles continue for the Lindsay Cardinals softball team. Lindsay coach Jeff Hall hoped that the Fowler Tournament April 3-6 would be an opportunity to work the kinks out and get back on track after losing six consecutive games. Instead the train completely derailed and they extended their losing streak to 10 games.
The Cardinals were outscored 38-10 in four games. They lost 9-0 to Selma, 6-5 to Parlier, 15-3 to Mendota and 8-2 to Kingsburg.
The Cardinals will turn their focus this week to the East Sequoia League when they take on Orosi and Dinuba this week.
