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Ray starting pitcher Destry Yocum pitched a complete game against the Gophers to earn the victory. Yocum was also named Athlete of the Week by the Ray Booster Club. Andrew Luberda | Miner
Copper Basin News
Ray starting pitcher Destry Yocum battled in last Wednesday’s game at Florence, limiting the Gophers to only one earned run in the Cats 5 – 2 victory. The win was the fourth-straight for the seventh-ranked Bearcats.
“At the end of the game I felt good,” Yocum said after picking up his fourth win of the year. “I was fighting during the first five innings of game, but my team kept me going and I just kept firing.”
The senior right-hander, who was named the Ray Booster Club Player of the Week for his efforts, pitched his second complete-game of year and allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits with five strikeouts. He threw over 100 pitches in the game, the most so far this season.
“His pitch count has been less than 50 during the first part of this season,” Bearcats’ head coach Rene Pacheco said about his ace. “We’re just trying to keep him fresh and hopefully he can help us make a deep run into the playoffs.”
Pacheco added, “As the game went on I thought he got a little stronger.”
The Cats started fast, scoring four runs in the first. The first two came on a two-RBI triple by shortstop Derek Pacheco, which scored Cole Yocum and Douglas McPeak, who walked and singled, respectively, to start the game. Pacheco later scored the third run of the inning before Yocum, who batted twice in the first, scored the final run of the inning.
“I think we set the tempo of the game in our first at-bat,” Rene Pacheco said. “We had them on their heels (early) and they were pretty much chasing the rest of the game.”
Already leading 4 – 2 heading into the top the seventh, the Bearcats added an insurance run to increase their lead to 5 – 2. Derek Pacheco’s leadoff single was followed by Cole Yocum’s walk and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Seth Harmon. An RBI double by Robbin Newman followed, driving in Pacheco with the game’s final run.
After starting the year 1 – 5 – 1, the Bearcats are now 8 – 6 – 1 after winning seven of their last eight games. Despite playing perhaps the best they have all season, there is still room for improvement, according to the Cats’ head coach.
“If our pitching can figure some things out and we can polish up defensively, I think we’re capable of getting better,” Rene Pacheco said. “We talk about (that) every game and trying to peak at the right time.”
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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