Neff, Harvesters Walk It Off Again!

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The Pampa Harvesters (3-2, 8-10) hosted the Dumas Demons (2-3, 5-14) last Tuesday night. It was a beautiful day for baseball with sunny skies and very little wind. There was a slight chill in the air by the end of the game due to the sun setting.

Sophomore Brooks Barton got the start on the hill for Pampa. After walking the first batter, he was able to successfully pick him off at first base for an out. A couple of more ground outs for Dumas led to a scoreless top of the first.

Sophomore Judsen Hancock started things off with a bang on a double to left field in the bottom of the first. Senior Michael Campos laid down a sacrifice bunt but was able to reach safely as Dumas attempted to throw Hanock out at third base, unsuccessfully.

Campos went ahead and stole second base during Senior Tyler Reed’s at-bat. Reed scored Hancock and reached first with an error by the Dumas shortstop. Pampa was unable to score any more runs with the threat and it was Harvesters 1, Demons 0 through one inning.

Barton had a 1-2-3 inning with two flyouts and a strikeout in the top of the second.

Pampa had a late start to their half of the second with a strikeout and a flyout. But, that’s why you get three outs! Junior Zanden Salazar singled on a line drive to third base. Senior Huston Skinner and Hanock both walked to load the bases full of Harvesters. Campos reached base on an error by the Dumas shortstop and scored Skinner and Salazar in the process to give Pampa a 3-0 lead heading into the third inning.

Barton walked the first batter of the inning but once again the Harvesters showed grit by picking them off at first base. With two runners on base, Barton recorded a huge strikeout to end the Dumas threat in the third inning.

Despite a single by Freshman Boston Botello, the Harvesters were not able to punch home any runs in the bottom of the third.

The Demons were able to scrap one run on the board in their half of the fourth to make it 3-1 Pampa. Pampa went down in order in their half of the fourth.

After getting the first two outs in the top of the fifth, Barton was subbed out for fellow Sophomore Isaiah Estrada. Estrada ended the inning without harm and Pampa led 3-1 after five complete.

Things got a little dicey for the Harvesters in the top of the sixth. Estrada walked the first two batters. Estrada and Reed were able to pick off the third Demon baserunner of the game for the first out. Dumas then laid down a sacrifice bunt to record the second out of the inning. A single put runners on the corners. Campos attempted to catch the runner stealing second but the ball went into the outfield to score another run for the Demons. Estrada recorded a strikeout to end the top of the sixth at Pampa 3, Dumas 2.

Freshman Jarren Hill recorded a one out single in the bottom of the sixth but was unable to come home and score. Pampa just needed three outs to record a win in the top of the seventh.

The first batter for the Demons lined out to Reed at first base. The second batter struck out. It looked as though it might be a 1-2-3 inning for Pampa. However, as with any district game, the wins do not come easy. Dumas recorded two singles to put runners on second and third. The next batter recorded a triple as the ball went all the way to the wall. This plated both the tying and go-ahead run for the Demons. Estrada was able to record a ground out to get out of the inning but not before Dumas took a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

After Skinner flew out to right field, Hancock recorded another big hit with a double to left field. Campos came up with intentions of laying down a sacrifice bunt. His bunt sailed over the charging pitcher and he was able to reach first safely. Campos stole second during Reed’s at-bat. Reed eventually took first base on an intentional walk. Dumas was afraid to pitch to the Southern Nazarene commit. Perhaps the biggest at-bat of his young career for Freshman Max Neff came next. Neff battled in the box with bases loaded, fouling off four pitches before it happened. Neff hit a grounder to shortstop and with his speed he was already going to be safe at first to at least tie the game at four. However, the throw by the shortstop sailed over the first baseman and this allowed Hancock and Campos to both score and give the Harvesters a 5-4 walk off victory.

Twice in district play, the Harvesters have walked it off with freshmen at the plate. This is a massive experience and confidence boost for the Harvesters as a whole. This type of game will be great for not only the remaining games of this season but also future seasons as these young Harvesters continue to grow and mature.

Barton went 3.2 innings pitched with just one hit and one earned run allowed. He also recorded two strikeouts. Estrada pitched 3.1 innings with four hits and two earned runs allowed. He recorded four strikeouts and got the win as well.

Hancock was 2-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Campos had a hit and two stolen bases. Neff had the walk off single as well as two stolen bases. Salazar, Botello, and Hill each recorded hits also. Sophomore Isaiah Anguiano recorded a stolen base as well.

In the second game of last week against Canyon, Pampa lost 9-0. Reed had seven strikeouts. He also had a double on the bases. Hill and Salazar also recorded hits in the game for Pampa. Salazar had a stolen base as well.

District Standings as of March 30:

Randall 5-0

Canyon 3-2

Hereford 3-2

Pampa 3-2

West Plains 3-2

Dumas 2-3

Perryton 1-4

Borger 0-5

Pampa hosted West Plains on Friday in Pampa. With a four-way tie for second, it was a pivotal game for the Harvesters. They will be back in action on the road against Randall on Tuesday of next week. Catch up on the recap of those games next week! All games are live-streamed on the GameChanger app. You can also catch Jamisen Hancock and Ben Campbell with the radio call for KDRL 103.3 FM. Their radio broadcast will also be on the live stream. (when technology works properly!). There was an issue with the piece connecting the GoPro to the radio on Tuesday. If there was no audio on Friday this was the reason.