Outfielder Sam Bates admits that he has been working on his swing all summer and that it’s taken some time to get used to the wooden bats.
The Crowder College sophomore seems to have finally found the groove Tuesday night, including a game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth to help the El Dorado Broncos beat the Dodge City Athletics 4-3 in Jayhawk League action at McDonald Stadium.
“It seemed like my bat dragged through the zone,” Bates said. “It’s felt good lately and tonight was the best it’s felt all year.”
Bates hit the game-winning solo home run off Baez over the 375 sign in right-centerfield off losing pitcher Albert Baez. Bates also hit two singles off of Baez, the starting hurler for the Athletics.
“He was trying to challenge me up with fastballs,” Bates said. “In the situation, it was a hitters’ cout, so I knew he was coming with it. It was a good to get my first home run (of the summer).”
Brock Green went three-for-four at the plate for the Athletics (11-18, 5-13), including a game-tying home run over right field in the top of the eighth inning. The Athletics had five hits as a team in the contest.
Neither team could get on the scoreboard until the fifth inning when the Broncos scored three runs off Baez. Robie Rea, Elliot Frey and Kirk Walker hit RBI doubles in the inning.
Dodge City came back with single runs in the top of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to come back to even the game.
Nate Hewes opened up the sixth inning with a single off starting pitcher Cody Conners, went to third on a double by Green and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trey Whaley.
Karch Kowalczyk started the seventh by getting hit by a pitch, stole second base, went to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 3-2. Green then tied the game with hit one-out solo home run off Rea, who is the Broncos' closer when not playing third base.
Rea was the winning pitcher in the game the Broncos (18-14, 9-12), throwing two innings. Baez gave up all four runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings of work for Dodge City.
The two teams will meet again in the second game of the three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. at McDonald Stadium.
EL DORADO 4, DODGE CITY 3
Dodge City 000 001 110 — 3 5 2
El Dorado 000 030 01x — 4 7 0
Albert Baez, Andrew Longoria (8) and Victor Lesperance; Cody Conners, Tyler Stefan (7), Robbie Rea (8) and Tyler Smith. WP — Rea. LP — Baez. HR — Dodge City, Brock Green; El Dorado, Sam Bates. Records — Dodge City 11-18 (5-13), El Dorado 18-14 (9-12).
