Strong Start for Apaches in Weekend Series Victory

Tyler, TX – The Apaches started their season strong with a 2-1 series win over the Frank Phillips Plainsmen in their opening weekend.

In the first game on Saturday, the Apaches secured a 5-0 victory in a seven-inning contest. The game ended with the Apaches recording 10 hits and 1 error, while the Plainsmen finished with 0 runs, 4 hits, and 1 error. The Apaches came out strong in the first inning with Nico Ruedas scoring off a hit by Gabe Flores, followed by an error in right field that allowed Flores to advance. Micah Roberts then grounded a hit to drive in Flores, giving the Apaches a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

The Apaches extended their lead in the fifth inning when Dalton Wilson hit a double, bringing Roberts home. A single by Lathan Van Ausdall allowed Wilson to score, making it 5-0.

Notable performances came from Ruedas and Wilson, who each had a double, while Ruedas, Flores, Roberts, Wilson (2 RBIs), and Van Ausdall each contributed RBIs. The win went to Dane LeMaster, who pitched 2 innings with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Colton Cross and Chris Langley also saw action on the mound, with Cross recording 1 hit, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, while Langley had 1 hit, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts.

In the second game, the Apaches triumphed 7-3. They tallied 11 hits and 1 error, while the Plainsmen had 3 runs, 6 hits, and 4 errors. Preston Newberry and Zack Zavala each hit doubles, and the Apaches earned seven RBIs, with Newberry and Landry Stamps driving in 2 each. Grayson Lincecum, Nico Ruedas, and Chase Fuentes added 1 RBI each.

The Apaches took a 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Fuentes that allowed Stamps to score. They added another in the third on a single by Lincecum, then in the fifth, Lincecum's sacrifice fly brought Zavala home. The Plainsmen tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh, setting up a tense 8th inning.

In the 8th, the Apaches responded with a 2-RBI double by Newberry that scored Raecek and Fuentes, followed by a walk and a ground-out RBI by Ruedas that sent Stamps across the plate. Roman Tolbert (1-0) picked up the win, pitching a scoreless inning with 1 strikeout.

The Apaches entered the third game with a 2-0 series lead but were unable to complete the sweep. After the Plainsmen took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, the Apaches bounced back in the fourth with two runs—one on an RBI by Stamps and another by Anthony Martinez. The Apaches added another run in the fifth off an error.

However, the Plainsmen answered with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth, tying the game at 3-3 heading into the 9th inning. In the final frame, the Plainsmen hit a 3-run homer to take a 6-3 lead, and the Apaches were unable to rally.

The Apaches will return to action this weekend at home against Coastal Bend. The first game will be Friday, January 31st, at 3:00 pm, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12:00 pm.