Evening Lions grinds out title
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Evening Lions celebrates an 8-2 victory over Round Table to win the Madera Babe Ruth championship Friday night at Madera South’s Eddie Chapa Field.
The Evening Lions scored runs in four of the six innings and won the Madera Babe Ruth championship with an 8-2 victory over Round Table at Madera South’s Eddie Chapa Field.
Nate Martinez led Evening Lions with a complete game shutout on the mound. He scattered nine hits and allowed runs in the first and second inning for the win. He stranded six runners and struck out six.
The top of the Evening Lions order helped the offense. David Ramirez, Tanner Sagouspe and A.J. Rocha combined for six hits, six runs and four RBIs.
Round Table was led by Caleb Galindo’s three hits.
Round Table started the game with a run in the top of the first inning. Evan Candelaria led off with an error. Raymond Perez singled to left to put runners at first and third.
Luke Carr flied out to left field and Candelaria tried to tag up and score from third. Evening Lions leftfielder Jojo Cosio threw a strike to the plate keep Candelaria from scoring.
However, Galindo followed with a single to left to drive in Perez for the first run of the game. Aaron Benavides followed with a single up the middle put runners at first and third, but the next batter grounded out to end the inning.
Evening Lions answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Sagouspe drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rocha singled to right-center and Sagouspe scored the game-tying run.
Drew Dizmuke walked to put runners at first and second. Dominic Mosqueda reached on an error and Rocha scored and Dizmuke advanced to third. After Michael Monreal reached on an error. Martinez walked to force in Dizmuke for a 3-1 Evening Lions lead.
Round Table answered back in the second. With two outs, Marcus Tade drew a walk and stole second. He went to third on a Noe Garza single up the middle. A wild pitch to Candelaria scored Tade for a 3-2 Evening Lions lead.
Evening Lions also answered with two runs in the second. With one out, Ramirez walked and Sagouspe singled to left. Rocha forced Sagouspe at second to put runners at first and third. Dizmuke singled home Ramirez and a balk call scored Rocha for a 5-2 lead.
Evening Lions added a run in the fourth when Ramirez led off the inning with a single to right and scored on Rocha’s triple to deep center.
Evening Lions closed out the game with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dylan Cosgrove led off the inning by reaching on an error. Ramirez singled home Cosgrove while Sagouspe singled home Ramirez for the 8-2 lead.
Meanwhile, Martinez battled with runners on base in almost every inning. He allowed two one-out singles in the third, but got out of the inning with a flyout and a groundout.
Round Table got singles from Isaak Murillo, Candelaria and Galindo in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and didn’t get past first base.
Martinez closed out the game by striking out the side in the seventh for the championship.
