Home Summer LeaguesTexas Collegiate League McCrory’s Arm, Pump Jacks Bats Top Marshals

McCrory’s Arm, Pump Jacks Bats Top Marshals

by Donald J. Boyles
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From CBB News Sources

The East Texas Pump Jacks sport the Texas Collegiate League’s highest-scoring offense and best home-field record – and both were on display Sunday night.

The Pump Jacks defeated the McKinney Marshals, 7-1, at Driller Park, moving back to within four games of the first-place Marshals. The Jacks moved back into a tie for second place with the Brazos Valley Bombers and Coppell Copperheads.

East Texas benefited from a strong outing by Pat McCrory, who made his way back from an illness earlier this week to give up just one run over eight innings pitched. McCrory (2-1) scattered seven hits and walked five while striking out six. It was the second longest outing of the season for a Pump Jacks starter, topped only by Scott Copeland’s complete-game win over the Bombers Friday night.


Even with McCrory on the mound, it was McKinney that drew first blood Sunday. A leadoff single in the second inning and a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Marshals. When a McCrory delivery got away from catcher Logan Moro, McKinney picked up the first run of the game.

The Pump Jacks turned things around in the home half of the third. Dexter Moreno led off with a single, then Jared Wondra lined a single to right to put runners at the corners. Wondra stole second and Adam De La Garza walked to load the bases. J.D. Dunn walked in Moreno to tie the score at 1-1. The Jacks picked up the lead when Matt Curry’s sure sacrifice fly to left field was mishandled by Del Howell, allowing Curry to reach safely and letting Wondra score. Paige Hodges grounded into a double play that brought De La Garza home, then Josh Riley singled home Dunn to build a 4-1 lead.

The Jacks added to the lead with runs in each of the next three innings. In the fourth frame, Moro led off with a walk, Wondra singled, and then Dunn grounded through the left side to bring in Moro.

The fifth inning saw another leadoff walk come back to hurt the Marshals. Hodges opened the inning with a free pass, after which Riley doubled him home.

An inning later, De La Garza opened with an infield single. Dunn’s groundout advanced him to second, then Curry’s single to right made the score 7-1.

The Pump Jacks’ eleven-hit attack was led by Wondra, who picked up his first three-hit game of the season. Riley pitched in with two RBI while going 2-for-4. Curry and Dunn each drove in a pair of runs, and De La Garza scored two.

The game was closed out by Luke Burnett, who pitched a scoreless ninth for his second appearance of the season. The Seattle Mariners draftee allowed a hit and a walk, but he also struck out a pair of Marshals.

The Pump Jacks will take a day off Monday before resuming the homestand with a two-game series against the defending champion Copperheads on Tuesday and Wednesday. Come Tuesday night, Pump Jacks fans can enjoy Two Dollar Tuesdays, when the Pump Jacks will offer discounts on select meals, food, and drinks, discounting each one to just two dollars. And on Wednesday, fans are invited to show their colors for Pump Jacks Pride Wednesdays. Fans that wear their Pump Jacks gear on Wednesday nights will receive half-price grandstand tickets for the game. Wear a shirt, bring your cap, or even make your own gear to prove you’re part of Pump Jacks Nation, and you’ll get in for half price at the gate.

Tickets for the remainder of the Jacks’ inaugural season schedule are on sale now. Fans may purchase tickets at the Pump Jacks office at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore, or over the phone at (903) 218-GO ET. Tickets may also be purchased online – and printed at home on any home printer – by visiting www.pumpjacksbaseball.com.

Single-game tickets start at $5 each – or $4 for children and seniors – for grandstand general admission tickets. Upper Box seats are $8 each, and Lower Box seats, which feature in-your-seat wait service, are only $10 per ticket.

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