Stallions earn moral victory in CMAC loss
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera South’s A.J. Martinez throws a pitch during Tuesday’s loss to Edison. She allowed two runs in a complete game.
Madera South head coach Peter Gallegoshates the term ‘moral victory,’ but admits his team’s 2-0 loss to the Edison-Fresno Tigers was one of those victories.
The Tigers scored runs in the first and fifth innings for the County/Metro Athletic Conference victory that kept them in second place in the conference.
“It was a moral victory,” Gallegos said. “I told these girls, no matter what, I’m proud of them. Whatever happens, I’m proud of them. I know we can compete with these teams. I need to make sure they believe it.”
Stallions pitcher A.J. Martinez tossed a complete game and allowed just the two runs despite runners on base in every inning except one. The Tigers stranded eight runners and banged out nine hits.
“A.J. pitched outstanding,” Gallegos said. “That’s what pumped her up and got her excited to pitch. We need everybody to contribute and believe. You can tell they were in it. We had a couple of rough innings, but we got some great plays.”
The Stallions were limited to just four hits and only had run runner get to third base.
The Tigers scored in the top of the first inning. A single up the middle, followed by an error on a sacrifice and a balk put runners at second and third. The next batter singled up the middle to drive in a run.
Martinez settled down to retire the next three batters in order to strand the runners.
Martinez allowed Edison’s lead-off batter to reach base in the first five innings. In the fifth, a single, followed by a two out double gave the Tigers an insurance run.
The Stallions only had four baserunners through the first six innings.
Taylor Valerio led off the seventh inning with a double to left center. Kaylee Nevarez singled to center to put runners at second and third after Nevarez advanced to second on a throw.
After a change in pitchers, the Stallions went down in order to end the game with the tying run on base.
