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Missions’ Korry Howell, Brantley Bell unleash multiple extra-base hits to beat Frisco

Korry Howell celebrates after hitting a double. He also tripled in the game. The San Antonio Missions beat the Frisco RoughRiders 4-1 on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Korry Howell celebrates after hitting a double. He also tripled in the game.
The San Antonio Missions recorded a season-high eight hits including five doubles and a triple to beat the Frisco RoughRiders 4-1 on Saturday at Wolff Stadium.

Korry Howell, the top San Diego Padres prospect in the Missions’ lineup, had a double and a triple. Brantley Bell had two doubles, one of which looked like a home run from the stands but was ruled otherwise.

Howell and Chandler Seagle both had two RBIs. Seagle and Luis Aviles Jr. accounted for the Missions’ other two doubles.

Missions pitchers limited Frisco to five hits and held three of the first four in the RoughRiders’ batting order without a hit.

San Antonio starting pitcher Brian Gonzales went 3 2/3 innings and did not get a decision. He allowed Frisco’s only run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Edwuin Bencomo was the first reliever out of the Missions bullpen and got the win. He went 2 1/3 innings and allowed only one walk with one strikeout.

Bencomo was the first of three Missions relievers, who combined to hold Frisco scoreless over the last 5 1/3 innings. Nick Hernandez pitched two innings. CD Pelham pitched the ninth and picked up his second save of the season.

Frisco scored a run in the top of the first for the early lead. The Missions went in front for good in the bottom of the second on a two-run double by Aviles that drove in Seagle and Bell.

The San Antonio Missions' Chandler Seagle doubles in the fourth inning just after sunset as a thundercloud passes in the distance south of Wolff Stadium on Saturday, April 15, 2023. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Chandler Seagle doubles in the fourth inning just after sunset as a thundercloud passes in the distance south of Wolff Stadium.

Sammy Diaz home run lifts UTSA over Western Kentucky

Sammy Diaz (44) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UTSA the go-ahead run.UTSA beat Western Kentucky 3-2 in Conference USA baseball on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Sammy Diaz (44) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UTSA the go-ahead run on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Roadrunner Field.
Sammy Diaz hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UTSA the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory over Western Kentucky on Friday at Roadrunner Field.

The three-game Conference USA series continues Saturday and Sunday.

UTSA took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first inning on a sac fly by Antonio Valdez and second inning on an RBI double by Matt King. Western Kentucky tied it at 2-2 with two runs in the top of the fourth.

Diaz broke the tie when his homer cleare d the 405-foot mark on the batter’s eye in center field.

Roadrunners starting pitcher Luke Malone got the win to raise his record to 3-2. He went 7.0 innings and allowed two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Simon Miller pitched the last two scoreless innings to pick up his third save

UTSA is 21-6 on the season and 6-1 in conference.

Sammy Diaz (44) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UTSA the go-ahead run. UTSA beat Western Kentucky 3-2 in Conference USA baseball on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Sammy Diaz watches his home run sail out over center field.
Sammy Diaz (44) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UTSA the go-ahead run. UTSA beat Western Kentucky 3-2 in Conference USA baseball on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Sammy Diaz circles the bases after hitting his fourth-inning home run.
Sammy Diaz (44) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UTSA the go-ahead run. UTSA beat Western Kentucky 3-2 in Conference USA baseball on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Sammy Diaz celebrates at home plate after hitting his fourth-inning home run.
Sammy Diaz (44) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UTSA the go-ahead run. UTSA beat Western Kentucky 3-2 in Conference USA baseball on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Sammy Diaz does the BOOM celebration with UTSA teammates after hitting his fourth-inning home run.

Former Reagan star Anthony Vasquez’s odyssey through the minors brings him back to San Antonio

Former Reagan High School and Texas A&M pitcher Anthony Vasquez is now with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. - photo by Joe Alexander
Former Reagan High School and Texas A&M pitcher Anthony Vasquez is now with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. – photo by Joe Alexander
Anthony Vasquez has traveled a lot of miles since his days as a pitcher and outfielder at Reagan High School in San Antonio.

After earning all-state honors as a senior outfielder at Reagan in 2005, Vasquez played his college ball first at Texas A&M, then at Southern Cal. He has been pitching in the minors since 2009, including four stints in the Mexican winter league.

The 6-foot, left-hander is now with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Vasquez and the Aces are currently in San Antonio for a four-game series with the San Antonio Missions.

This season in the Pacific Coast League, Vasquez has a 3-4 record with a 6.23 ERA. He has appeared in 13 games including seven starts.

Vasquez pitched two innings in relief on Sunday against the Missions. He also pinch-hit in Saturday night’s 12-inning game at Wolff Stadium.

Missions announce tentative opening day roster

The San Antonio Missions baseball team opens its season Thursday.

The team released its tentative opening day roster on Monday.

Missions opening day roster

Pitchers (14) B-T HT WT DOB Birthplace Acquired 2018 Team(s)
34 Tristan Archer R-R 6-2 200 10/18/90 Garden City, MI Signed as FA – 2013 Colorado Springs (AAA), Biloxi (AA)
33 Zack Brown R-R 6-1 180 12/15/94 Seymour, IN 2016 MLB Draft (5th Rd) Biloxi (AA), AZL Brewers (ROK)
11 Bubba Derby L-R 5-11 185 2/24/94 Arcadia, CA Trade with OAK, 2016 Colorado Springs (AAA)
25 Josh Fields R-R 6-0 191 8/19/85 Athens, GA Signed as FA – 2019 LAD (MLB), Oklahoma City (AAA), AZL Dodgers (ROK)
50 Deolis Guerra R-R 6-5 245 4/17/89 San Felix, Venezuela Signed as FA – 2018 Round Rock (AAA)
12 Adrian Houser R-R 6-4 235 2/2/93 Tahlequah, OK Trade with HOU, 2015 Milwaukee (MLB), Colorado Springs (AAA), Biloxi (AA)
38 Jay Jackson R-R 6-1 195 10/27/87 Greenville, SC Signed as FA – 2019 Hiroshima (Japan)
22 Brad Kuntz L-L 6-0 180 5/14/92 Cincinnati, OH Signed as FA – 2015 Biloxi (AA)
20 Jon Olczak R-R 6-0 180 11/14/93 Fayetteville, NC 2015 MLB Draft (21st Rd) Biloxi (AA), Carolina (A+)
55 Jake Petricka R-R 6-5 220 6/5/88 Northfield, MN Signed as FA – 2019 Toronto (MLB), Buffalo (AAA)
45 Miguel Sanchez R-R 6-3 190 12/31/93 Bonao, Dominican Republic Signed as FA – 2016 Colorado Springs (AAA), Biloxi (AA), Carolina (A+)
30 Burch Smith R-R 6-4 225 4/12/90 San Antonio, TX Signed as FA – 2019 Kansas City (MLB)
32 Michael Tonkin R-R 6-7 220 11/19/89 Glendale, CA Signed as FA – 2019 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham (Japan)
40 Aaron Wilkerson R-R 6-3 190 5/24/89 Fort Worth, TX Trade with BOS, 2016 Milwaukee (MLB), Colorado Springs (AAA)

Catchers (3) B-T HT WT DOB Birthplace Acquired 2018 Team(s)
47 Skyler Ewing R-R 6-1 225 8/22/92 Arlington, TX Signed as FA – 2019 Jacksonville (AA), Jupiter (A+), Florence (Ind.)
3 Tuffy Gosewisch R-R 5-11 200 8/17/83 Freeport, IL Signed as FA – 2018 Syracuse (AAA)
27 Jacob Nottingham R-R 6-2 230 4/3/95 Redlands, CA Trade with OAK, 2016 Milwaukee (MLB), Colorado Springs (AAA)

Infielders (7) B-T HT WT DOB Birthplace Acquired 2018 Team(s)
1 Mauricio Dubon R-R 6-0 160 7/19/95 San Pedro Sula, Honduras Trade with BOS, 2016 Colorado Springs (AAA)
17 Lucas Erceg L-R 6-3 210 5/1/95 San Jose, CA 2016 MLB Draft (2nd Rd) Biloxi (AA)
2 Jake Hager R-R 6-1 170 3/4/93 Henderson, NV Signed as FA – 2018 Colorado Springs (AAA), Biloxi (AA)
18 Keston Hiura R-R 5-11 190 8/2/96 Valencia, CA 2017 MLB Draft (1st Rd) Biloxi (AA), Carolina (A+)
6 Nate Orf R-R 5-9 180 2/1/90 Wentzville, MO Signed as FA – 2013 Milwaukee (MLB), Colorado Springs (AAA)
13 Tyler Saladino R-R 6-0 200 7/20/89 San Diego, CA Trade with CWS, 2018 Milwaukee (MLB), CWS (MLB), Colorado Springs (AAA), Wisconsin (A)
5 Cory Spangenberg L-R 6-0 195 3/16/91 Clarks Summit, PA Signed as FA – 2019 San Diego (MLB), El Paso (AAA)

Outfielders (3) B-T HT WT DOB Birthplace Acquired 2018 Team(s)
9 Corey Ray L-L 6-0 195 9/22/94 Chicago, IL 2016 MLB Draft (1st Rd) Biloxi (AA)
8 Troy Stokes Jr. R-R 5-8 182 2/2/96 Baltimore, MD 2014 MLB Draft (4th Rd) Biloxi (AA)
15 Tyrone Taylor R-R 6-0 185 1/22/94 Torrance, CA 2012 MLB Draft (2nd Rd) Colorado Springs (AAA