The McClatchy Lions will take on the Folsom Bulldogs in a tournament on Tuesday. McClatchy is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.7 runs per game this season.
McClatchy's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Monday. They blew past Lassen 12-0. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Lions.
Matt Cuevas made a splash no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched. Those seven strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.
Ryan Sandmeier
| 04/14/25 vs Lassen | 3 |
| 03/29/25 vs Folsom | 2 |
| 03/21/25 @ West Park | 2 |
| 04/09/25 vs Antelope | 1 |
| 04/02/25 @ Grant | 1 |
In other batting news, Ryan Sandmeier was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-3. Those three hits gave him a new career-high. Antonio Barber was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-2.
McClatchy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .595. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lassen only posted an OBP of .211.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Bulldogs on Monday. Folsom narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Gridley 4-2.
Like McClatchy, Folsom also got a great game from a two-way player: Alex Blount. He pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Blount is becoming a predictor of Folsom's success: when he allows at most one hit the team is 4-2 (and 2-12 when he doesn't). Blount was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with one triple and one run.
In other pitching news, Folsom got a great performance from Ben Bowers as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched.
Blount wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Gavin Tietz, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base. Devin Schuster also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
McClatchy's record now sits at 17-3. As for Folsom, their record is now 6-14.
McClatchy's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's game. The Lions have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Folsom, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will McClatchy continue to outrun the ball?
McClatchy was able to grind out a solid victory over Folsom when the teams last played back in March, winning 5-2. Do the Lions have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bulldogs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
