Stallions fall in title game

The Madera South Stallions baseball team ran into bad luck at the wrong time in the championship game of the Central Valley Diamond Classic against County/Metro Athletic Conference foe Sanger in Fowler.

The Apaches scored two runs in the third and added an insurance run in the sixth inning for a 3-1 victory over the Stallions on Saturday night.

“Every game in the CMAC will be a battle,” head coach Bobby Waits said. “It was a good little preview to how tough it will be.”

Caleb Bertoncini was the tough-luck losing pitcher. He threw a complete game and allowed five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.

“Caleb pitched really well and went the whole way,” Waits said.

The Stallions recorded seven hits, but also ran into three innings of line drive double plays.

“We kept battling until the end,” Waits said. “I told our guys all you can do is hit the ball hard. It’s kind of the way the game is.”

The Stallions had six hits and had the tying runs on base in the top of the seventh inning before a groundout ended the game.

“Our bats are coming around,” Waits said. “We’ll have a little tune-up game with Roosevelt tonight.”

The Apaches used a two-out rally to take the lead in the third inning. A single, walk and a wild pitch put runners at second and third. A single drove in both runners for a 2-0 lead.

Felix Soria singled to lead off the fourth. After a forceout, a walk put runners at first and second. However, Alonzo Tovar lined out to short and Bertoncini was doubled up at second.

After Manny Nunez led of the inning with a single, Jiovanni Saavedra forced him at second. However, Carlos Gonzales lined out to second and Saavedra was doubled up to end the inning.

Ramon Uribe led off the sixth with a single. Josh Conigliaro lined out to second and Uribe was caught off first to halt the threat.

Sanger added a run in the sixth with a two-out single and a triple to take a 3-0 lead.

Madera South kept battling in the top of the seventh. Bertoncini led off the inning with a single. He went to second on Oscar Reyes’ sacrifice bunt and scored on a Tovar double.

After a groundout, Saavedra walked to put runners at first and second. But, the next batter grounded out to second to end the game.