Now that the Metroplex has started drying up, it appears the Brazos Valley Bombers are heating up. Taking advantage of a second consecutive dry day in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Bombers visited Colleyville Saturday night and soundly defeated the host LoneStars, 12-2. It was Brazos Valley’s second straight win heading into the All-Star break.

The Bombers struck for a pair of runs in each of the first and second innings and never looked back, scoring all of the team’s runs in the first four frames. The backbreaker was the third inning, which saw the B’s send ten runners to the plate and score seven runs.

On the mound, the Bombers got a strong start from John Touchton (1-0) followed by four innings of hitless relief. Touchton went five innings and allowed just three hits, walking five and striking out four. He allowed one earned run, his first of the season, on a first inning solo home run by Tyler Henley.

The Bombers opened the scoring in the first when TJ Mittelstaedt led off the game with a double, moved over to third on a Keith Stein groundout, then scored on Mark McGonigle’s sacrifice fly. Will Basom added a two-out single and scored on a double by Joseph Towns.

In the second, the Bombers loaded the bases on an error, a hit batter, and a single. Mittelstaedt grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Doug Simmons, and Stein’s fielder’s choice plated Chris Wallace.

The third inning opened in much the same way, with the Bombers loading the bases. Basom doubled, Towns walked, and Blake Walker singled. A single by Simmons scored the first run of the frame and chased Colleyville starter Sean Devine. Wallace welcomed reliever Trent Delazzer with a two-run single to score Towns and Walker. After a passed ball moved both runners up, Ryan Weber walked and Mittelstaedt recorded the first out of the inning. With three runs already across in the frame and the bases loaded, Stein busted the game open with a liner over the first base bag that went for a three-run triple. McGonigle followed with a groundout that scored Stein and gave the Bombers an 11-1 lead.

The Bombers added their twelfth run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Weber that scored Towns, who had led off with a single.

With a comfortable cushion, the pitching staff worked to keep the Colleyville offense at bay. Touchton worked out of several jams unscathed before handing the ball to Clint Helms to open the sixth inning. Helms struggled a bit with his command, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a hit batter. He then balked in a run before settling down and getting out of the inning.

Adam Albright, Evan Cox, and Tyler Davis pitched an inning each and completely shut down the LoneStars. Albright walked the first batter he saw, but then the trio retired the next nine batters they saw to end the game.

At the plate, all but one starter registered at least one hit. Stein, Basom, and Weber posted a pair of safeties, while Stein led the team with four RBI. Basom, Towns, Simmons, and Wallace scored two runs apiece.

The All-Star break begins on Sunday, followed by the TCL All-Star Game on Monday, July 9. Pitcher Casey Whitmer and Towns will start for the Speaker Division, and Basom, Stein, McGonigle, and Davis will join them as reserves.

Brazos Valley will end the All-Star break early to make up a doubleheader on Tuesday, July 10 in Coppell against the Copperheads. The Bombers will enjoy another off-day before returning to action at Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark for a blockbuster three-game stretch, featuring Thirsty Thursday on July 12, Fireworks Friday on July 13, and Bombers T-shirt Giveaway Night on July 14.