The Pampa Harvester baseball team entered into their second season under head coach Austin Samulowitz just a few weeks ago. Here is what the coach had to say regarding the team and district play which is soon to ramp up this year on March 16th in Hereford.
“We are returning three starters from a second place team in the district from 2022. We are really excited about having Senior pitcher Tyler Reed back. He brings back two years of varsity experience and is also committed to playing college baseball next year. We also return Senior catcher Michael Campos. Campos had a great first year on varsity and we’re looking forward to him leading our team from behind the dish,” Samulowitz said. “Our last returner is Senior middle infielder Huston Skinner. Huston is one of the most athletic kids on the field. He makes plays look easier than they actually are. As far as our district goes, we added two teams, Randall and West Plains. They are both good baseball schools that look to toughen up the competition this year. Because of the bigger district, district play opens up during spring break this year on March 16th.”
Pampa began the year with a road trip to Lubbock Roosevelt on February 20th. The Eagles were no match for the Harvesters. Pampa scored six runs in the first inning, three in the second, 11 in the third, and one more in the fourth. Pampa won by a final of 21-2. In the game, sophomore shortstop Judsen Hancock was 4-6 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Senior catcher Michael Campos was 2-2 with a triple, two RBIs, three walks, a steal, and a run scored. Sophomore right fielder Brooks Barton had three walks, two RBIs, a steal and two runs scored. Sophomore pitcher Isaiah Anguiano was 2-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. He also had three innings on the mound with just one earned run allowed and six strikeouts and the win. Freshman center fielder Max Neff had a double, a steal, two walks, and two RBIs. Freshman left fielder Jarren Hill had two walks, a steal and two runs scored. Sophomore right fielder and pitcher Isaiah Estrada was 2-5 with three RBIs, three runs scored and a steal. Estrada also pitched two innings and had two strikeouts on the mound. Junior first baseman Zanden Salazar had a double, four RBIs, two runs scored and two walks. Senior second baseman Huston Skinner was 3-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman Boston Botello also recorded a stolen base.
Vernon canceled the second game of the season. Pampa competed against Childress in the first game of a tripleheader last Saturday. Childress would play Littlefield after that game, with Pampa and Littlefield ending the tripleheader. The Harvesters beat Childress by a score of 15-6. The highlight of this game was a double by Skinner. Most of the other action was on the basepaths with two steals by Hanock and one steal by Skinner, Barton and Neff each. The Harvesters walked 14 times in the game as they used a patient approach at the plate to put runs on the board. Estrada had a complete game of five innings pitched with just one ER and six strikeouts. He also picked up the win.
Pampa put up six runs in the first inning of the game versus Littlefield. They never let off the gas after that with a 10-4 victory. Anguiano had five innings pitched and six strikeouts as well as the win. Barton also pitched one inning and struck out two batters. Anguiano helped his pitching stats out on the offensive end. He went 3-3 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. Hill also had a triple, three RBIs and a run scored. Skinner recorded a stolen base in the game as well.
The win against Littlefield gave Pampa their first 3-0 start since 2018. In that season, the Harvesters began with an 8-1 record. The final game before tournament play began for the Harvesters fell on Tuesday night in Elk City, OK. Elk City went 26-9 last season and lost in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. They returned seven starters this season. Elk City also has an Oklahoma State baseball commit. It would be a very good first of the year test for Pampa.
Barton stood his ground on the mound with four innings of zero earned run ball. He also recorded five strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Dalton Booth came in for the last two innings and recorded three strikeouts. His lone blemish was a two-run home run by Kash Mayfield (OSU commit). All-in-all, it was a very good pitching performance for Pampa. Unfortunately the bats could not get any mojo going in the game. The Harvesters were held to just three hits. One was recorded by Salazar, Hill and Skinner each. Senior courtesy runner/outfielder Brenton Stowers recorded a stolen base. Pampa dropped their first game of the season by a final score of 4-0.
The Harvesters record sat at 3-1 heading into tournament play. Pampa will play Midland Christian, Lubbock Estacado, Big Spring, Levelland and Trinity Christian in the Levelland Tournament on March 3-5. The Harvesters will then travel to Bowie next weekend for tournament play against Bowie, Dallas Sunset, Gainesville and Burkburnett. Upon completion of tournament play, the Harvesters will head into district play at Hereford on March 16th over Spring Break.
All of the tournament teams are very good and will give the Harvesters great preparation for what will be a very tough district to compete in this season. Hereford, Perryton, Canyon, Dumas, West Plains, Randall, and Borger.
