By Matt Tasler/sports@trcle.com
The Cleburne Yellow Jackets opened the season with back-to-back tournaments away from Yellow Jacket Field, but will play in front of the home crowd for the next six games.
After tonight’s home opener at 7 p.m. against O.D. Wyatt, the Jackets (6-5) will be hosting the Cleburne Yellow Jackets 2009 Tournament beginning Thursday.
The Jackets opened the season with the Granbury Tournament, where Cleburne claimed fifth place.
Over the weekend, the Jackets participated in the Saginaw Boswell Tournament, posting a 3-3 record.
Cleburne opened tournament play Thursday with a 7-6 loss to Abilene Cooper.
Estefan Jimenez struck out 10 in the loss.
Cooper Walls went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and three RBIs, while Jose Martinez was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs.
Tanner Marshall went 1-for-3 with a double, and Ty Taylor and Chase Benton each went 1-for-2.
Taylor had a stolen base and Benton was hit by a pitch.
Later that night, Boswell edged Cleburne 6-4, with Taylor picking up the loss in relief after allowing two unearned runs.
Benton was 2-for-3 with a double, and Marshall also went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Hector Juarez and German Hernandez went 1-for-3, and Martinez went 1-for-2.
The Jackets picked up a pair of victories on Friday.
Cleburne defeated Midway Greenwood 12-2 behind the pitching of Martinez.
Walls went 1-for-3 with an RBI, Juarez went 1-for-3 with a hit by pitch, and Taylor went 1-for-2 with a double, a hit by pitch and a walk.
Benton went 2-for-3 with a double and a hit by pitch, Martinez went 1-for-2 with a triple and a hit by pitch, and Marshall went 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs. Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a double, Conner Marshall went 0-for-1 with a pair of hit by pitches, and Dustin Torres went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a hit by pitch.
Emmanuel Marioni also was hit by a pitch for the Jackets.
Cleburne hit the field again after that contest to take on Saginaw and claimed a 6-4 victory.
Benton earned the win on the mound, with Martinez claiming the save.
Walls went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Juarez was 1-for-4. Taylor went 0-for-1, but was hit by a pitch and had a sacrifice bunt.
Benton went 0-for-2 with a walk, as did Tanner Marshall.
Martinez went 1-for-2 with a walk, Hernandez went 2-for-3, Conner Marshall went 1-for-2 with a hit by pitch and Dustin Torres went 0-for-1.
Cleburne split its two Saturday games, as the Jackets fell to Brewer, 7-6, before rebounding for a 9-2 win over North Crowley.
Against Brewer, Walls went 1-for-4 and Juarez went 2-for-4. Taylor went 1-for-2 with a triple, Benton went 1-for-3 with a hit by pitch, Martinez went 0-for-2 with a walk, and Tanner Marshall went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.
Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a double, Conner Marshall went 0-for-2 with a walk and Cameron Sikes drew a walk.
Taylor Berry and Jimenez each went 1-for-1.
Against North Crowley, Juarez had a pair of walks, Torres went 2-for-3 with a double, and Taylor went 2-for-2 with a walk.
Conner Marshall went 0-2 with a walk, Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a double, and Benton went 1-for-2 with a hit by pitch.
Martinez went 1-for-3, Jimenez drew a walk and Tanner Marshall went 2-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice.
