Freshmen Warhorses cruise to easy win over Crystal City

The Freshmen Warhorses put up nine runs in the first inning against Crystal City on Friday, March 24, and never looked back, beating the Freshmen Javelinas 16-1.
Leadoff batter Isaiah Oropeza set the tone for the game, doubling to center field to start the bottom of the 1st inning. Leonard Pompa walked, then advanced to second on an error by the Crystal City catcher that also allowed Oropeza to motor around for the first run of the game. Luke Ricord singled to left, and Truett Barron doubled to center to drive in Pompa. Joseph Guajardo followed with a comebacker to the pitcher to load the bases with one out. Dakota Wofford, Jesus Hernandez, and Kaleb Nira drew three consecutive walks to force in three more runs for a 5-0 lead.
Oropeza came to the plate for the second time in the inning and hit a ground ball to shortstop that forced an error, allowing him to reach base safely and Wofford to score. Pompa drew his second walk of the inning to force in Hernandez. Ricord walked as well to force in Nira and put Devine up 9-0.
Crystal City committed three straight errors to open up the bottom of the 2nd inning and load the bases with Guajardo, Wofford, and Hernandez. Guajardo scored on a wild pitch, and Wofford scored on a dropped third strike to Oropeza, who also managed to reach base again. Pompa walked for a third time to load the bases, and Tristin Cruz’s grounder to third base drew an error that gave Hernandez the opportunity to score. Ricord knocked in Oropeza with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 13-0 lead.
The Freshmen Javelinas’ sole run of the game came in the 3rd inning, thanks to an error, a single, and an RBI double.
Devine scored three more times in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Richard Ramirez led off the inning with a walk, Hernandez doubled to right, and Alex Rubendall singled to center to drive in Ramirez. Oropeza knocked in Rubendall with a one-out double, and Cruz followed with a double of his own to make the final score 16-1.
The Freshmen Warhorses had nine hits, nine walks, left five runners on base, and committed four errors. The pitching tandem of Barron and Oropeza limited Crystal City to just three hits and four walks. Barron was the pitcher of record.
“The boys played a good game against Crystal City last Friday,” Coach Bart Oropeza said. “I felt that we hit the ball well and we were aggressive on the bases.”
Batting: Oropeza 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 SB; Pompa 0-1, 1 RBI, 3 BB; Cruz 1-4, 2 RBI; Ricord 1-3, 2 RBI; Barron 1-2, 1 BB; Guajardo 1-3; Wofford 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Ramirez 1 BB; Hernandez 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Nira 0-1, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Rubendall 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 SB.
Pitching: Barron 3.0 IP, 3 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts; Oropeza 1.0 IP, 1 walk, 1 strikeout.
Upcoming games
The Freshmen Warhorses host Holy Cross on Friday, March 31 at 5:00 pm before heading to Central Catholic to take on the Freshmen Buttons for another 5:00 pm matchup on Monday, April 3. Devine then travels to Hondo for a 6:00 pm contest on Monday, April 10.

By Marly Davis
Staff Writer