For openers Tuck fires complete game
(Temple City)- Garrett Tuck fired a complete game four hitter to lead Arcadia to a 6-1 win over Temple City Friday in the season opener for both teams. It was also the first game of the Arcadia Elks Tournament.
Tuck also had two hits and pair of RBIs at the plate to pace the offense.
“I’m really proud of him. You know he’s a TC guy so I think he really likes pitching against them,” said Arcadia Coach Nick Lemas. “It was a great way to start the season. If he continues to pitch like this it’s going to be a great year.”
Tuck struck out 8 and walked 3 in going the distance. He walked all three batters in the third inning which led to Temple City’s only run. He also stuck out the side looking in the same inning to avoid further damage.
He seemed to get stronger as the game went along allowing only two base runners over the final three frames.
“We hammered him as a sophomore and I think he remembers that every time he pitches against us,” said Temple City Coach Barry Bacon. “He really seems to bear down. He has pitched great against us ever since.”
Arcadia Coach Nick Lemas discusses the economy with the home plate umpire
Sophomore Calvin Copping tried to match Tuck pitch for pitch and did exactly that through the first four innings. Copping struck out seven through five innings of work including the side in the first inning. The game was deadlocked at 1-1 before Arcadia broke through with two in the fifth to take the lead for good.
In the fifth, Brandon Benson doubled to deep center and scored on a single to left by Tuck. Tuck took second on an error and third on a passed ball before scoring on a base hit by Jonathan Larson. Tuck fanned Kyle Schneider to end the threat but he was replaced by Connor Cullen to start the sixth.
“He pitched well. I mean he was going head to head with Tuck. He’s only a sophomore. He’s going to be a good one but I might have left him in an inning too long,” Bacon said.
Arcadia put the game away with three more in the seventh. Manny Rosas and Jonathan Tom walked. Tuck rapped another base hit to left to drive in one and with the bases loaded Schneider lined a double down into the left field corner to plate two more.
Caleb Halverson doubled with one out in the seventh for TC but Tuck got a ground ball and finished it off in style with a strikeout.
Calvin Copping threw five solid innings for Temple City
Halverson’s hit was one of only four for the Rams. Branden Pultz doubled in the second, and Jonah Jarrard singled in the fourth and sixth innings but that was it.
“We just couldn’t get anything going. Jonah got two hits because he was swinging the bat. You have to swing the bat to get hits,” said Bacon.
Lemas had no thoughts about pulling Tuck early.
“There was no way I was going to take him out of that game. He told me after the fifth inning, ‘I’m going to finish this’. I didn’t have a choice,” Lemas added.
A 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 6
TC 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
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