Shadow Ridge bunts trigger baseball win over Palo Verde

Shadow Ridge’s baseball team finally used small ball to end a long game Friday.

The Mustangs used three straight bunts to start a rally in the 11th inning and held on for a 4-2 win at Palo Verde.

“The kids have bought into it and understand that there are going to be more close games and they’re going to have to do that to put people in scoring position,” Shadow Ridge coach Frank Tousa said.

Alec Pittsenbarger led off the 11th with a bunt single. Travis Caskie then pushed a would-be sacrifice to the right side, but he beat the pitcher in a race for the bag for a single.

Zach Shaver’s sacrifice bunt was fielded by Palo Verde first baseman Chris Hopballe, who threw wildly to first, and Pittsenbarger beat the return throw to the plate for a 3-2 lead. Caskie then came home on a wild pitch.

Palo Verde’s Andrew Dalaimo had a two-out single in the 11th, but Josh Roelofs struck out Jordan Benson with darkness looming to end the game.

Roelofs threw five scoreless innings of relief to get the win. He allowed one hit, struck out 10 and walked two.

“That’s the longest he’s thrown this year,” Tousa said. “We’re usually trying to plan on going one or two (innings) with him. But he’s a bulldog and a fighter and said there’s no way you’re taking me out of this game. He’s just a bulldog that competes and hates to lose.”

Ben Fitzhugh and Roelofs hit back-to-back doubles in the fifth to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.

Palo Verde finally got to Shadow Ridge starter Mitchell Shields in the sixth. Grayson Webber led off with a walk and scored on a triple by Dylan Dunseath. Dunseath then scored the tying run on a groundout by Kevin DeSoto.