Broncos work swiftly against Naz

Broncs work swiftly against Naz
Clarendon advances to regional quarter-finals
Two games and 11 innings later, the Clarendon Broncos are the Area Round Champions and a tough contender in the Regional Quarter-finals this week.

They blasted Nazareth in the best two-out-of-three series at Sandie Field in Amarillo when they gained a 10-run rule win two times in the contest. They mustered 30 runs in the two games while holding the Swifts to only three for the two games. They won 17-2 in Game 1 on Tuesday and 13-1 on Saturday at Littlefield High School.

Johnny Gaines opened the series on Tuesday and was virtually unstoppable. He had a no-hitter going for the first four innings and struck out 12 batters while on the mound.
Offensively, the Broncos were hitting on all cylinders as everyone in the lineup scored at least one run in the game.

“We jumped on them early in the first by scoring four runs,” coach Brad Elam said. “Troy Chambless drove in the first run on a base hit to the right, and Forrest Yelverton drove in Chambless, and we scored twice more that inning on singles by David Roberts and Brady Miller with two outs.”

Elam went on to say that Brayden Phillips squeezed in Matt Henderson after Henderson tripled in the second. Yelverton and Justin Shillings went on to hit doubles in the third inning that scored four more runs.

According to Elam, the Broncos’ bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth when they scored eight runs.

“Henderson had an RBI double and Colter Goolsby drive in two with an inside-the-park
homerun and Gaines added a triple,” Elam said.

Defensively, Gaines did the job from the mound, but several players made great plays as well. Phillips was part of that defensive dominance when he threw a runner out who was trying to steal. The Broncos were determined to get the Area championship in only two games and made that happen on Saturday with the 13-1 win.

“We started out a little closer than I would have liked, but we were able to turn it on in the later innings,” Elam said. “Johnny Gaines got things started in the first inning by doubling, and Troy Chambless singled him in for the first run of the game.”

Chambless also controlled the Nazareth offense from the mound allowing only one run in the game, which was scored in the first inning. Their bats were on fire and the Broncos turned singles, doubles, and stolen bases into pay dirt every inning.

“Chambless added a monster home run to the right in the sixth inning,” Elam said. “We really hit well this series, and we stole 15 bases in the second game. Brady Miller and Matt Henderson reached base all four times and had a great series. Miller and Gaines racked up three runs each and Yelverton, Roberts, and Henderson scored two runs each.

“Chambless was dominant on the mound,” Elam said. He struck out 12 while only walking one and gave up only four hits according to Elam.

“I was really pleased with our effort in this series and I know everyone appreciated the great fan support,” Elam said.

The Broncos will take on Stamford Wednesday, May 19, at 6:00 p.m. in Ralls in the
Regional Quarter-final round. They will play a second game on Saturday, May 22, at Lubbock Christian High School at 4:00 p.m.