Prep Baseball: Mojave River League all-stars pull off a 12-4 victory, Apple Valley's Logsdon drives in 3 runs
Playing alongside players he spent all season competing against, Eric Logsdon wanted to show his new teammates what he’s all about.
The Apple Valley shortstop stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded in the annual all-star baseball game between the Mojave River League and Desert Sky League.
“When I got up to bat, bases were loaded and I went up with the mindset of wanting to do damage and represent the MRL,” Logsdon said after the MRL pulled off a 12-4 victory at Hesperia High School.
Logsdon helped the MRL squad to a six-run fifth inning with a two-run double. Logsdon roped a fastball from Silverado’s Uriel Martin to center field, and celebrated by flexing his muscles at his teammates once he reached second base.
“I am a very passionate player so when I can lead my team it fires me up,” Logsdon said. “Being a part of a team is a brotherhood and we feed off each other. It’s always fun playing with an awesome group of guys.”
The game got off to a quick start as both starting pitchers handled the opening inning with ease.
Victor Valley’s Mikey Jimenez began the game by striking out a batter, followed by a ground out to first base for the second out.
Oak Hills’ Leland Riley singled up the middle but before Jimenez could throw another pitcher, he picked off the pinch runner to end the inning.
Burroughs’ Conner Baxter, the MRL’s Player of the Year, retired the side with two strikeouts in the bottom half of the inning.
The MRL struck for two runs in the top of the second after loading the bases with no outs. Jimenez got Hesperia’s Andrew Gutierrez to ground into a run-scoring double play, and Oak Hills’ Adam Caporale drove in a run with a single for a 2-0 lead.
Barstow’s Malachi Maestas hit a lead-off double in the bottom of the second and the DSL loaded the bases with one out after an error and a walk. But Batzer struck out the following two batters to end the threat and keep the lead intact.
The DSL threatened again in the third inning with two runners on but Oak Hills’ Sebastian Sanchez retired the side to end the inning.
Sanchez escaped another bases loaded jam threat in the fourth inning by striking out Victor Valley’s Aaron Ramirez.
The MRL finally broke the game open in the fifth inning. Aside from Logsdon’s double, three bases-loaded walks brought in runs and Oak Hills’ Austin Allan also drove in a run with a double.
The MRL could have added a seventh run in the inning but Logsdon was thrown out at home trying to score from second base on Allan’s double.
The DSL finally scored in the bottom of the fifth inning. Victor Valley’s Alex Rodriguez hit a double and game around to score on a grounder by Adelanto’s Darren Atkinson.
After failing to score another run in the inning, the DSL loaded the bases again in the bottom of the sixth but Sultana’s Caillou Estrada struck out Ramirez to end the threat.
The MRL scored four more runs in the eighth inning after Hesperia's Tony Topete and Oak Hills' Devin Diaz each hit run-scoring singles, a run-scoring double by Caporale and a sacrifice by Logsdon.
The DSL tacked on three runs in the eighth inning. Atkinson hit a lead-off single, stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. He scored on a single by Jimenez, who later came around to score on another passed ball. Adelanto’s Tommy Murrietta scored the team’s final run on a sacrifice fly.
Daily Press reporter Jose Quintero may be reached at 760-951-6274 or JQuintero@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DP_JoseQ.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Prep Baseball: Mojave River League all-stars pull off a 12-4 victory
