In the Floresville tournament, the JV Warhorses went 2-1 against Floresville, Antonian Prep, and Pearsall last Thursday and Saturday. “I felt that our kids did a good job competing in the Floresville tournament. We performed well against Floresville and Antonian. We even came back from a 5-run deficit against a tough Antonian team. We just had too many errors against Pearsall to come out with a victory. Over all I was very proud of our boys for competing in the tournament and earning second place finish,” said Coach Bart Oropeza.
In their first game against Floresville, the Warhorses got off to a sluggish start until the top of the third inning when they increased their lead from 1-0 to 6-0, then added another 8 runs in the fourth, and only allowed Floresville 1 run. The strong pitching from Carlos Gutierrez stopped Floresville from getting many players on base. Gutierrez only allowed 2 hits in his 60 pitches.
Brady Hackebeil had 2 walks. Xsavior Martinez 2 runs, 1 walk. Gus Puente 1 run. C. Gutierrez 1 hit. Joey Blanquiz 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 walk. Jacob Barron 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 RBI. Evan Priest 1 walk. Hayden Brummage 1 run, 1 hit, 1 walk. Kannon Ramirez 1 run, 2 RBIs. Sage Cruz 1 run. Mando Gutierrez 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 walk. Payton Carr 1 run, 1 hit, 1 RBI. Marcus Espinosa 1 run.
The win over Antonian Prep came in the bottom of the fourth when the Warhorses rallied and hit home 8 runs to come from behind at 4-7. The 8 run streak started when Devine had 2 outs and K. Ramirez hit a pop fly with bases loaded and Martinez and Cruz scored. Next batter, Blanquiz singled and advanced Barron and K. Ramirez. Priest hit a strong line drive to left field and Barron and K. Ramirez crossed home. M. Gutierrez hit a double and Blanquiz scored. With runners on second and third, Carr hit a single to short stop and Priest made it home. The final runs of the inning came from Carr and M. Gutierrez when Puente hit a single to first. Antonian Prep couldn’t score in the fifth and Devine added two more runs to end the game 14-7.
Hackebeil 1 run, 1 hit, 1 walk. Puente 1 run, 1 hit, 13 RBIs. Martinez 1 run, 3 hits, 2RBIs. Cruz 2 runs, 2 hits. Barron 2 runs, 1 hit. K. Ramirez 1 run, 1 hit, 2 RBIs. Blanquiz 1 run, 1 hit. Priest 2 runs, 3 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 walk. M. Gutierrez 1 run, 1 hit, 1 RBI. Carr 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 RBI.
In the final game of the tournament against Pearsall the JV Warhorses had a hard time hitting the ball. They only had 5 hits in their 22 at bats. Pearsall won the game 13-3 for the championship.
Hackebeil 1 run, 2 hits. Martinez 1 hit. K. Ramirez 1 run. Barron 1 hit, 1 RBI. M. Gutierrez 1 run, 1 hit.
Coach Oropeza said, “We have one more tournament left for the season and I know the team is hungry for 1st place finish.” They will compete in the Lytle JV Tournament March 8th and 9th. They will play Somerset and Hallandale in Somerset this Friday night and then play Canyon Lake March 4th.
By Dicy Chambers
Sports Writer