The Pampa Harvesters (10-8-1, 3-4) are on the outside looking in currently at the mid-way point through District play.
After starting 3-0, the Harvesters’ schedule ramped up as they faced Dumas, Randall, Canyon and West Plains. Two of those teams, Canyon and West Plains, are currently ranked towards the top of 4A. The District rankings are as follows: West Plains 6-1, Canyon 6-1, Hereford 4-3, Randall 4-3, Pampa 3-4, Perryton 3-4, Perryton 3-4, Dumas 2-5, Borger 0-7.
“We started out 3-0 and playing really good baseball,” Head Coach Austin Samulowitz said. “We ran into a tough stretch of games where you’re playing Canyon, Randall, West Plains and at Dumas. We knew this stretch of games was coming and we knew it would be tough.
“We played really good against Dumas and came up short there. We actually played really well against Canyon, too. Just came up a couple of hits short there. If we would have just had a couple of more hits in both of those games we would’ve won both.We’ve got to play better the second half through District.”
In their home game against West Plains, the Harvesters recognized educators in their lives who have made an impact.
“Doing Teacher Appreciation Night is awesome for our kids to recognize them,” Samulowitz said. “But it’s also a cup-filler for teachers at a point in the year where we’re all really tired and weary. For kids to give a shout-out of appreciation, it goes a long way for teachers. I really like doing that and teachers have fun with it and it’s a fun way to get more people to the ballpark.”
Among Samulowitz’ seniors is Brooks Barton, who has been a long-time piece of the program.
“Brooks is having a really good senior year,” Samulowitz said. “He’s doing a great job at first base. We ask him to pitch every other district ball game and he is batting clean-up for us.
“Brooks is one of those guys that’s producing (batting .364 in District). He pitched in one of those big games against Hereford that we won. He’s having a really good senior year. He was second-team all District selection last year and is looking to get something again this year. I’m proud of how he is doing right now.”
The Harvesters returned to action on Friday, weather permitting, against their rival Borger Bulldogs. This game was scheduled to be played at Borger at 5 p.m. Stay tuned to Pampa ISD Athletics social media for more information.
“Doesn’t matter how good or how bad each team is year-in and year-out, it’s still Borger vs. Pampa,” Samulowitz said. “Both sides are going to be at their best no matter what’s on the line, we’re ready for another close game and another battle where we have to do the little things right. It’s another tough environment where we’ve got to scratch it out.”
Midseason Stats
Junior Boston Botello is hitting .286, with 16 hits, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored, six walks, five hit by pitches and six stolen bases; Junior Jarren Hill is hitting .216 with 11 hits, nine singles, two doubles, 10 RBI, 14 runs scored, nine walks, one hit by pitch and eight stolen bases; Junior Conner Hall is hitting .200 with two hits, two RBI, two runs scored, two walks; Senior Chace McLaughlin is hitting .244 with 10 hits, seven RBI, eight runs scored, five walks, two hit by pitch and two stolen bases; Senior Isaiagh Anguiano is hitting .294 with 15 hits, nine singles, four doubles, two home runs, 17 runs scored, 13 walks and three stolen bases; Junior Max Neff is hitting .420 with 29 hits, 23 singles, three doubles, two triples, one home run, 11 RBI, 17 runs scoredand seven stolen bases; Senior Brooks Barton is hitting .278 with 15 hits, 14 singles, one double, 10 RBI, nine walks, three hit by pitch; Senior Isaiah Estrada is hitting .282 with 10 hits, a double, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored, six walks, three hit by pitch and two stolen bases; Senior Judsen Hancock is hitting .298 with 14 hits, 12 singles, two doubles, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored, 12 walks, two hit by pitch and three stolen bases; Senior Noah Anguiano is hitting .250 with seven hits, one double, seven RBI, four runs scored, eight walks, three hit by pitch and one stolen base; Junior Jack Dyer was hitting .167 with two hits, a home run, five RBI, four runs scored, and four walks prior to an injury.
Isaiah Anguiano has pitched in eight games with a 4-1 record with 58 strikeouts, 30 runs, 13 earned runs, 23 walks and a 2.73 ERA; Barton has pitched in six games going 1-3 with 26 strikeouts, 25 runs scored, 10 earned runs, 43 walks and a 2.56 ERA; Estrada has pitched in 15 games (starting three) going 4-2 with 19 runs scored, 13 earned runs, 15 walks, 42 strikeouts and a 2.703 ERA
