Volz pitches Coast Union baseball team past Avenal
The Coast Union baseball team seemed to be sitting pretty going into the seventh inning against the Avenal Buccaneers on Thursday, March 17. Coast Union was leading 9-3, and sophomore pitcher Chase Volz had been pitching effectively, albeit he was tiring.
But the Buccaneers rallied on base hits and Coast miscues, and suddenly it was 9-6 with the tying runs on base and two outs. Volz, who has earned a reputation for maintaining his composure under pressure, coolly induced the next hitter to pop up for the third out, and the Broncos had their first win in six outings this season.
“The last three outs are the hardest three to get,” head coach Brian Machado said. “That’s what we tell our players.”
Machado said Volz threw more than 100 pitches during the game.
“He was getting tired, but nothing rattles him. He never gets excited. I wish all our pitchers were like that.”
Machado credited the Buccaneer pitcher’s talent, especially his darting curveball, which Coast Union hitters had a tough time handling.
He was getting tired, but nothing rattles him. He never gets excited. I wish all our pitchers were like that.
Brian Machado
Coast Union head baseball coach, on Chase Volz“They haven’t seen a real good curveball like that,” he said.
The ball comes to a right-handed hitter looking like it will be inside. The batter tends to move away from the plate, and suddenly the ball breaks across the plate and the batter watches the umpire call a strike.
The Avenal pitcher struck out 11 Broncos and walked four, but the Broncos’ seven stolen bases and eight hits added up to nine runs, enough to beat the Buccaneers.
On Saturday, March 19, the Broncos took a road trip and played a doubleheader against Fresno Christian in the San Joaquin Valley. Coast Union lost the first game 5-4. Seven Bronco hitters walked, and there were seven hits. Fresno Christian batters collected nine hits.
The Broncos won the second game handily by a 14-5 margin, banging out 13 hits while being issued 10 free passes to first base.
On March 22 the Broncos traveled to Arvin in the San Joaquin Valley and lost to the Bears, 11-0.
Broncos’ season statistics so far
Coming into this week’s play, sophomore Will Stephenson led all Bronco hitters with a .412 batting average. Senior Lane Sutherland was hitting at a .409 clip, and he leds the team with 10 stolen bases in as many attempts.
Volz leads all pitchers with a 1.05 earned-run average; Jack MacKinnon sports a 2.33 ERA, and Riley Kennedy’s ERA is 4.77.
The Broncos have the next couple of weeks off for spring break before resuming play April 7.
Special to The Cambrian.
This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Volz pitches Coast Union baseball team past Avenal."