JetHawks Jump Out To Big Lead Early, Fall Late

5/25/2009

JetHawks Jump Out To Big Lead Early, Fall Late
Bladergroen Homer in Ninth Seals Series Sweep for Mavericks


(LANCASTER, CA) – After the first inning on Memorial Day at the Hangar, it seemed the Lancaster JetHawks would surely snap their losing streak. The JetHawks led the ballgame 7-1 after one, and had their winningest pitcher on the hill in Chris Hicks. Four batters into the second inning, however, the Mavericks had cut the lead to two and chased Hicks. It was nip and tuck the rest of the way, but High Desert struck last with a home run to deep right field off the bat of Ian Bladergroen and the Mavericks swept the series with a 12-11 win.

After High Desert scored on a wild pitch in the first to get an early lead, the JetHawks exploded for seven runs of their own. J.B. Shuck singled to lead off the home half, then Eric Suttle reached on an error by Mavericks starter Adam Harben. After Jon Gaston walked, Jason Castro drew another base on balls to drive in the tying run. Koby Clemens singled in two runs, David Flores doubled in two more. For good measure, Chris Jackson singled Flores home and scored himself on an RBI single from Suttle.

But the Mavericks got right back to work in the second, with back to back solo home runs by Travis Scott and Ko Hui Lo. Lo would finish the game a single short of the cycle. They added two more in the second when Juan Diaz and Gavin Dickey scored on RBIs by Tyson Gillies and Bladergroen. They went on to take the lead in the fifth at 9-7, but the JetHawks were not done.

After the Mavs scored another run in the seventh to take a 10-7 lead Lancaster seized the lead back with some timely hitting and a couple defensive miscues by the Mavericks. After Suttle reached on an error, Jon Gaston hit a towering home run to right field to get the lead back for the JetHawks. Jason Castro walked, Marcos Cabral singled to left before Koby Clemens reached on an error by Edilio Colina. When David Flores hit a high fly ball to left, it appeared the Mavericks would have their first out of the inning. But Lo lost the ball in the sun, and Flores had a two-RBI single and the JetHawks were in front 11-10.

The JetHawks held that lead into the ninth, and were one strike away from taking the game from the division leading Mavericks. But with two outs and Gavin Dickey on third base, Bladergroen crushed a breaking ball over the wall in right to give High Desert a 12-11. Lancaster battled in the ninth, but stranded two men on base.

The JetHawks will enjoy an off day tomorrow before they hit the road to open a four game set in Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday at 7:05 PM. The radio broadcast of the game on Magic 1340 and online at www.JetHawks.com begins with the Pre-Game Show at 6:50 PM. They will return to the Hangar Sunday, May 31st to face the Modesto Nuts at 6:00 PM.

Great ticket packages, including season tickets and flexible mini-plans, are on sale now for the 2009 season and may be ordered by calling (661) 726-5400. For more information, please visit the JetHawks official website www.JetHawks.com.