Stallions dominant in all phases for win
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera South’s Carlos Gonzales connects on one of his team-high three hits during Tuesday’s season-opening rout of Roosevelt. He also picked up the win on the mound, tossing four no-hit innings.
The Madera South Stallions baseball team rode a 16-run offense, along with a two-hit shutout to defeat the Roosevelt-Fresno Rough Riders Tuesday night at Eddie Chapa Field.
“I think this is the type of team that each game we are going to get better and they are going to get more comfortable, more familiar with their job or position,” Madera South head coach Bobby Waits said. “We got better as the game went on, but I’m proud overall.”
Starting pitcher Carlos Gonzalez had himself a day. Not only did he contribute to a two-hit shutout, including nine strikeouts, Gonzalez went three-for-five including two runs and two RBIs. Gonzalez was one of seven Stallions with an RBI and one of six to have multiple.
The Rough Riders never got a footing on a chilly season-opening night in Madera. After a quiet first inning, the Stallions capitalized on poor Roosevelt pitching. The Rough Riders used a plethora of pitchers, could not keep Madera South off the bases.
The Stallions’ 16 runs were contributed to not only hitting, but walks, hit batsmen and poor defense, as well Madera South drew seven walks and stole six bases. Their aggressiveness will be something Stallion fans will see all season, coach Waits said.
“The nice combination I have is a lot of speed at the top and bottom of the lineup,” Waits said. “So, it’s a good combination with some pop in the middle and that’s my overall goal with this team. To cause havoc when we are on the bases. I want to steal second, I want to steal third, obviously we laid down a squeeze. I got guys that can run, so I’m definitely going to be aggressive, I’d rather be aggressive than tentative, and I think they are buying into what I want from them, so you can expect more of that.”
After a slow start, things began to pick up in the second inning. After Gonzalez shut down the Rough Rider side, the Stallions responded when they came up to bat.
Alonzo Tovar got on base with a walk before swiping second. The Rough Riders did the Stallions work for them after two wild pitches allowed Tovar to score.
Madera South continued its hot start at the plate in the following inning. After Ramon Uribe got on base with a walk, he stole two bases to get himself to third. Peyton Kragie followed up with a single to give the Stallions men on the corners.
Jeremy Flores stepped up and delivered a single up the middle to give Madera South another run. Gonzalez kept the momentum going after he stepped into the batter’s box.
He hit a fastball into centerfield for a double, allowing Kragie and Flores to race home. Madera South led by four runs, but they wanted more. Uribe came up singled to give the Stallions a 5-0 lead after Gonzalez raced home.
With the game already in hand, Madera South kept their foot on the pedal. Between the fifth and sixth inning, the Stallions scored 11 runs. Every Stallion in the lineup got on base at least once between the two innings.
The Rough Rider pitchers missed location after location, allowing Madera South to pick on miscues by their opponents.
Defensively, Roosevelt committed multiple errors, giving the Stallions extra bases.
