Stallions baseball gets by Panthers
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera South’s Caleb Bertoncini scores on a wild pitch before the tag of Panther’s pitcher Michael Alvarez.
The Madera South Stallions got a solid complete game from Jiovanni Saavedra and got enough offense to record a 4-1 County/Metro Athletic Conference victory over San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno in Eddie Chapa Field.
Although the Stallions were outhit 8-6 Tuesday, Saavedra limited the damage to just one run. He allowed just two hits with runners in scoring position and struck out six.
The Panthers put runners on in every inning. However, Saavedra got a double play in the sixth and picked off a runner in the fourth.
Caleb Bertoncini scored two runs and Juan Carlos Gonzales drove in two runs for the Stallions. The Stallions got on the scoreboard with a two-out, nobody on rally in the bottom of the first inning. Bertoncini drew a four-pitch walk. He came all the way around to score on Gonzales’ bloop popup near the right field line that fell in front of the Panthers’ right fielder.
The Panthers answered in the top of the second with a single, sacrifice and back-to-back singles to tie the score.
Madera South reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second. Flores started the rally with a one-out single. He stole second and went to third on Angelo Feliu’s single.
Brandon Gamiz laid down a bunt down the first base line. Memorial’s throw to the plate was too late for the incoming Flores for a 2-1 Stallions lead.
The Panthers put the pressure on Saavedra with a two-out double in the third fifth innings, but he got the next batter to end the threat.
Madera South gave Saavedra some breathing room in the fifth. With one out, Josh Conigliaro drew a four-pitch walk. He went to third on Bertoncini’s hit-and-run single to right.
Gonzales flew out to center and Conigliaro came in to score. Alonzo Tovar was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
With pinch-hitter Seth Jessing at the plate, Memorial uncorked a wild pitch and Bertoncini scored with a slide for a 4-1 lead.
From there, the Stallions turned to Saavedra. In the seventh, Saavedra got a strikeout and a groundout. However, he walked the No. 9 batter, but struck out the lead-off batter looking to end the game and give the Stallions the victory.
