The Pampa Harvesters celebrated their 10 seniors on Wednesday evening when they hosted the Borger Bulldogs in hopes of keeping the Canyon loss as their lone blemish on their district record.
Those same seniors pulled through big for the Harvesters and led to the 3-0 shut-out of their district rival.
“We battled all game long and their pitchers did a great job of keeping us off-balance,” Head Coach Austin Samulowitz said. “We couldn’t adjust. But our guys finally did adjust in the sixth, put a couple balls in play and it was good timing.”
Senior Hunter Nichols took the mound and retired a dozen hitters and only allowed three hits in the contest. The right-handed pitcher also created some problems for the opposing pitchers, inducing three walks from the plate.
“Hunter’s been working for three years on coming back after something bad happens and not letting something in the past affect what happens in the future,” Samulowitz said. “He did a good job on that today. He pounded the zone and gave us a chance. I’m super-proud of him.”
Senior Hunter Dyer’s RBI single in the fourth inning plated seniors Rhett Hill to put the Harvesters on the board 1-0. Senior Sam Anguiano provided some run-support in the sixth with an RBI triple to right field scoring senior Troy Perez; followed by an RBI double from junior Tyler Reed to score Anguiano and give Pampa the 3-0 lead.
In a close game like what the Harvesters played on Wednesday evening, the experience these 10 seniors have came through big.
“This senior group and I, we’ve been through a lot,” Samulowitz said. “We’ve played a lot of baseball games together and they’ve done a great job of being coached by me and continuing the things we’re doing to build a successful program. I’m very lucky to take over a program that’s already been established and now it’s time to take it to the next step. These seniors are a part of that.”
The Harvesters moved to 5-1 in District play and traveled to Hereford on Friday to take on the Whitefaces at 1 p.m.
“Coach (Grant) Davis does a great job with Hereford,” Samulowitz said. “They beat Dumas on Monday and their pitcher (Ramirez) pitched on Monday. They beat Dumas 7-3 and we know they’re feeling good after that win and are going to give us all they’ve got. We’re excited to go to Hereford and play.”
Stat round-up
Hunter Nichols pitched seven innings with three hits, 12 strikeouts and a walk.
Hunter Dyer went 1-3 with an RBI, Armando Miranda drew a walk, Sam Anguiano went 1-3 with an RBI, a triple, a run scored and a walk, Hunter Nichols drew three walks, Tyler Reed went 1-3 with an RBI and a double, Cayson Steward drew a walk, Michael Campos went 1-4, Rhett Hill went 1-3 with a run scored, Troy Perez went 1-1 with two walks and a run scrored.
