What started off as a back-and-forth battle between old district rivals ended up in a run-rule victory by the boys in blue. After watching Dilley take an early 2-0 lead after their first at bat and a 4-3 lead after two complete, the Natalia offense eventually got into their groove vs. the Grey Wolves. Natalia came alive in the latter half of the game, as the bats came alive, and the game ended with a two-run walk-off homerun by Manuel Garcia allowing for a 15-4 victory. The win pushed the Stangs to a 9-8 season record and a 2-2 mark in 27-3A.
“Friday’s game was a great response to the slump we have been in the last few games,” Coach Kasey Crowther said. “We did well at the plate producing 15 runs on 17 hits and this is the kind of baseball we are capable of playing.”
Dilley jumped ahead of Natalia with a two-run opening at bat, thanks to four out of their first five batters producing singles.
The Stangs responded with a productive opening at bat themselves, as they used a Gavin Martinez single, a double by Manuel Garcia, a single by Jacob Navarro, a dropped third strike by Joey Blanquiz and a single by Wyatt Owens to take a 3-2 lead.
Dilley responded, as they used two walks a hit by a pitch and a single to produce two runs pushing them back ahead 4-3.
This would stand until the bottom of the 3rd, as Natalia’s Blanquiz started things off with a triple as he was followed suit with a nice double down the 1st base line by Owens which scored him allowing Natalia to tie things 4-4.
Natalia took the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning. The Stangs used a Navarro single, an Owens single, a double by Luis Butentello and a single by Martinez to score three runs pushing the Stangs back ahead 7-4.
Defensively for Natalia, the Stangs used three different pitchers during the game including Sonny Rymers, Fabian Ruiz and Manuel Garcia. Garcia pitched the final 3.2, as he had the best showing allowing two hits, struck out nine and allowed 0 runs for Natalia.
The Stangas took complete control offensively in the 6th as they exploded and truly highlighted a few weaknesses on the Dilley defense. Natalia used a Navarro single, a double by Blanquiz, a single by Owens, a single by Buentello, a walk by Devin Perez, a triple by Gavin Martinez, a triple by Ruiz and a walk-off two run homerun by Garcia to claim a huge 15-4 run-rule victory over Dilley.
Rymers threw 1.1, allowed five hits, walked two, struck out two and allowed four earned runs. Ruiz pitched 1.0, allowing two walks and Garcia pitched 3.2.
At bat: Owens 4-4-1RBI-2runs scored, Blanquiz 2-4-1RBI-2runs scored, David Silva 0-0-3runs scored, Vasquez 0-4, Ruiz 1-5-1RBI-1run scored, Navarro 3-4-1RBI, Martinez 3-5-3RBIs-2runs scored, Garcia 2-4-3RBIs-2runs scored, Buentello 2-4-2RBIs-2runs scored and Perez 0-3-1run scored.
Defense: Put-Outs: Navarro 12, Rymers 1, Blanquiz 1, Vasquez 1, Ruiz 1, Garcia 1, Buentello 1. Assists: Garcia 1, Blanquiz 1, Ruiz 1.
By Eric Smith
Staff Writer