The Yelm baseball team squared off against Rochester High School, but lost 15-4, during a non-conference game on Thursday, March 30.
After the Tornados briefly led, the Warriors offense erupted to secure the victory.
Earlier in the week, the Tornados were swept by South Sound Conference rivals Timberline and were outscored 15-2 during the two games.
Yelm has lost five straight contests after they started the season 2-0-1.
In Yelm’s first two games against Timberline High School, they traveled to Lacey, before returning home to host the Blazers.
On Tuesday, March 28, Yelm lost to Timberline, 7-2, and then dropped another game to the Blazers, who secured a 8-0 win.
“As a whole, we don’t have much of an identity right now and are trying to work on how to play hard for seven innings,” Yelm Head Coach Zach Miller said. “We have talent and are skilled, but struggling to make routine plays.”
In the game against Rochester, freshman Parker Myers, who is typically a shortstop for Yelm, started on the mound.
Myers got his defense off of the field quickly in the first inning as he promptly collected the first three outs of the game.
The Tornados were the first to score after Myers singled to give his team an early 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, freshman first baseman Landan Halterman scored after a wild pitch allowed him to reach home.
Yelm lost its lead in the third inning after an RBI single and two RBI double gave Rochester a 3-2 lead. They added another run to their lead after a pitch and led 4-2 in the third inning.
Rochester continued its offensive explosion throughout the remainder of the contest, defeating Yelm, 15-4.
“It starts on the mound. When we compete in the zone and throw strikes, we get the results we want, but are unable to defensively make the play behind our pitchers,” Miller said. “When we don’t throw strikes, teams capitalize on free bases they’re given, and we aren’t to the point offensively to answer back.”
Miller said what the team is doing is “not a good equation for success.”
“Myself and my coaching staff take accountability and will set aside more time in practice doing the routine things,” he said.
The Tornados hosted Peninsula High School on Monday, April 3, and traveled to play the Tides on Tuesday, April 4. Miller described the series against Peninsula as a “must win.”
Yelm will have a week for spring break, but will return to action on Tuesday, April 11 to host the Capital Cougars. They’ll travel to Capital on Wednesday, April 12 to complete the series.
Then on Friday, April 14, Yelm will host Pierce County League’s Spanaway Lake High School in a non-conference contest.
