Freshmen Warhorse pitchers Isaac Oropeza and Leonard Pompa combined for 5 no-hit innings in Devine’s decisive 12-0 win over the John F. Kennedy Freshmen Rockets last Thursday, April 13.
Starting pitcher Oropeza went 4 2/3 innings, racking up eight strikeouts along the way, before handing the ball over to Pompa for the final out of the game. Pompa induced a grounder to second to put the game away with the no-hitter intact.
The Freshmen Warhorses improved to 4-5 with the win.
Devine scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Jesus Hernandez was hit by a pitch to lead things off. He stole second and advanced to third on Clayton Brown’s sacrifice bunt before coming around to score on a misplayed ball.
The Freshmen Warhorses’ other 11 runs all came in the bottom of the 4th inning, when they batted around. Riley Barton led off the inning with a bunt single and Richard Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Kaleb Nira grounded to third, and the Rockets’ third baseman took the easy out at his base to leave runners on first and second with one out.
Oropeza and Blaine Miller hit consecutive doubles and Pompa added a single to drive in four more runs. Matthew Sumners and Hernandez drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, and Brown hit a line-drive single to center to drive in Pompa and Sumners for a 7-0 lead.
Barton walked to load the bases again, and Ramirez singled on a hard ground ball to left field to knock in Hernandez and Brown. Ramirez was caught stealing second, but Barton was able to score on a steal of home before Nira walked. Oropeza and Miller each singled to left, with Miller driving in Nira. Oropeza then stole third and scored on a passed ball to give Devine the 12-0 win.
Batting: Oropeza 3-4, 1 RBI, 2 SB; Miller 2-4, 3 RBI, 1 SB; Pompa 1-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SB; Sumners 0-2, 2 BB, 2 SB; Hernandez 1 BB, 1 SB; Brown 1-2, 2 RBI; Barton 1-2, 1 BB, 1 SB; Ramirez 1-1, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB; Nira 0-2, 1 BB.
Upcoming games
The Freshmen Warhorses host Wimberley on Friday, April 21 at 5:30 pm before heading to Holy Cross on Monday, April 24 for a 5:00 pm game.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer