High Desert Yardbirds Rally Past California City

June 13 2018 The High Desert Yardbirds defeated the California City Whiptails 10-7 in a game in which both teams collected 14 hits. High Desert overcame a 5-4 deficit after five innings by scoring six times in the eighth, while California City added one run in the bottom half of the inning.

Jason Johnson-Wilcoxson led the Yardbirds with three hits, four RBI and two runs scored, including a home run. Aaron Cook also homered and drove in four runs. Shane Brown had three hits, while Kent Blackstone added two hits and a double. High Desert scored three runs in the second, one in the fifth and six in the eighth.

California City received four hits and two RBI from Scott Stetson, who hit a home run. Tino Mention went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while Johnny Abbaduscky and Wardy Polanco each collected two hits. Matthew Fountain added a double and two RBI, and California City scored four runs in the fifth after opening the game with one run in the first.

Gregg Gausden earned the win for High Desert after allowing four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings with three strikeouts. Aaron Cook worked 1.1 innings and Jeremy Barth pitched three innings. Chris Miranda-Carr took the loss for California City after allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings while striking out six; R. Edwards surrendered six runs, five earned, on seven hits over four innings.