JV Lions brutalize Cardinals, Wildcats
The Lockhart Lions JV Baseball team traveled to Del Valle to compete in the third district game on March 23. In the top of the first inning Landon Pederson singled stole second and scored on an RBI single by Brandon Navarro to give the Lions an early lead. The Del Valle Cardinals responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead despite
getting only one hit.
Staying true to form, the Lions retaliated with a huge top of the second scoring 12 runs on six hits and four base-on-balls, to take a 13-4 lead.
After holding the Cardinals scoreless in their half of the inning, the Lions tacked on another five runs to extend the lead to 18-5. Del Valle matched the Lions with five runs of their own taking advantage of the Lions inability to throw strikes. Lockhart finished the scoring for the night with four more runs in the top of the fourth inning making the score 22-9.
Damian Natal came in and shut down Del Valle in the bottom of the fourth striking out the side.
The Lions were led in hitting by Landon Pederson, Brandon Navarro and Abel Gonzales who each collected three hits. Michael Miller and Jacob Alvarez also had two hits each.
“Each and every player contributed in the victory,” Coach James Patton said after the game. “All nine batters were on base and scored runs for us.”
On Friday, March 26, the Lions returned home to square off against the Elgin Wildcats, and once again came away victorious.
The Lions, starting pitcher, J.D. Pardo, pitched an outstanding game in his first start of the season, according to Patton. He did not give up any earned runs and had seven strikeouts in five innings.
The Lions bats continued to stay hot, banging out seven hits and plating five runs in the first inning to lead 5-0. John Michael Mendez doubled with one out to start the rally. John Madrigal knocked in Mendez with an RBI double and scored on a single by Brandon Navarro. Damian Natal and Jonathan Alvarez followed with singles of their own; scoring later on hits by Pardo and Cody Hargraves.
Lockhart scored three more runs in the bottom of the second inning to take an 8-0 lead.
After two unearned runs in the top of the third, both teams were unable to score until the bottom of the fifth. The Lions, leading 8-2, started a two-out rally.
Hargraves reached on a fielder”s choice and Jacob Alvarez walked to start the final outburst. Mendez drove a double to left field driving in two runs. John followed with an RBI single to make the score 11-2. After the pitcher missed with the first pitch, Brandon Navarro saw the one he wanted and drove the second pitch he saw over the scoreboard in left for a walk-off homerun.
The final score was a lopsided 13-2 in favor of the Lions.
“We continue to hit the ball well and our defense is pretty solid,” Patton said. “I was really pleased with the outstanding starting pitching, it is what we need to improve on the most in order to compete and succeed in all our remaining games.”
The Lions will close the first round of district play on the road when they travel to Kyle to face the Lehman Lobos. They will open Round Two at home on Friday, April 9, 2010, when they host the Manor Mustangs beginning at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of James Patton)
