Stallions compete in loss to Panthers
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera South first baseman A.J. Rocha places the tag on an oncoming Zach Fuson during a fifth inning double play in Saturday’s loss to the San Joaquin Memorial Panthers.
After getting hammered 35-4 in its previous two games against the San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno Panthers, all Madera South baseball coach Alan Sandoval wanted out of his team was to compete.
Compete his team did in a 7-1 loss Saturday at Eddie Chapa Field to the Panthers.
Although his team only managed a run, they battled all day to keep the state’s sixth-ranked Panthers out of double-digits in runs scored.
“It was encouraging today,” Sandoval said. “All I asked from the coaches on Thursday was to compete on Saturday. I don’t care what happens or what the score is, ust go out there and compete. I know we’re overmatched with what we have and what they have. That’s what we did today was compete. We’re going to take that momentum into this week.”
The Panthers scratched runs across in four innings, but the Stallions’ pitching limited too much damage.
Starter Brian Monges suffered the loss. He allowed four runs, three earned, in three innings. Jair Alvarez allowed two runs in his two innings and Jorge Gutierrez allowed a run in the sixth. Aiden Sua was the most effective by pitching a 1-2-3 seventh.
Madera South only managed two hits, but reached base with six walks, as well. Xavier Cantu and Joseph Cosio were the only two Stallions with hits. Monges scored the run and Murf Gray got the RBI.
The Stallions will next turn its attention to Madera for a three-game, three-day series beginning Tuesday before hitting the playoffs next week.
“You don’t have to get these guys up for Madera,” Sandoval said. “It’s going to be an intense series. Whoever comes out on top will have some good momentum into the playoffs.”
Madera South hosts the Coyotes on Tuesday and Thursday with Madera hosting Wednesday. All three games are slated to start at 6:30 p.m.
Former Madera players highlighted the offense for the Panthers. Tanner Sagouspe, who hit three home runs in the first game of the series, hit a no-doubt shot over the left-centerfield fence for a solo shot. Charlie Monterrosa singled and doubled while scoring two runs.
The Panthers scored a run in the first when Monterrosa singled and stole second and scored after two hit batters and a full-count walk.
Memorial added three runs in the third, the first on Sagouspe’s home run. Monterrosa hit a double and scored two batters later on a single. Another single drove in a third run for a 4-0 lead.
The Panthers scored two runs in the fourth on a bunt single, walk and single for a 6-0 lead.
A walk and two singles added another Panthers’ run in the sixth.
Madera South put two on in the first, but a double play ended the inning.
Cosio hit a two-out single in the fifth and went to second on a wild pitch, but a groundout ended the inning.
The Stallions finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth. Monges reached on a one-out walk. Elijah Tang drew a walk and a wild pitch advanced the runners.
Gray hit a deep fly ball to center to drive in Monges. However, Tang was caught off second and was tagged out to end the inning.
The Stallions put two on in the seventh with a Cantu single and a Josiah Meza walk, but a double play ended the game.
