By BOB OTTO
FOR THE VALLEY CHRONICLE
“He (Charles Oden) threw me a splitter and I had no choice but to hit it on the ground and luckily it got through,” said Necochea whose double scored Isaiah Flores and Chad Dotinga from second and third bases respectively.
But it was what happened before Necochea’s game-winning hit that weighed heavily in the Tigers’ loss. With one out, Garrett Denbaugh walked and was pinch run for by Flores. Then Dotinga singled to right field putting runners at first and second. But a pick-off attempt at first sailed out to right field advancing both runners into scoring position and ultimately led to their scoring.
And that throwing error, coupled with some spotty play by the Tigers in the game didn’t sit too well with coach Rick Zepek.
“We came here to play last year’s defending (Mountain Pass League) champions and we played our worst game of the year by far,” Zepek said. “We got back into the game 3-3 (in the third inning), but continued to make mistakes.”
After Hemet scored the go ahead runs, relief pitcher Chris Wolford closed out the Tigers in the top half of the seventh with three strikeouts, sandwiched by a double by Javon Evans down the left field line. Wolford relieved starter Augie Gallardo in the fifth to pick up the win.
“We had good pitching from Wolford (three hits, five strikeouts, no runs allowed) and we got the key hits,” Necochea said. “San Jacinto is a rivalry game, and we had to play our hardest. Today was a tough game.”
The Tigers scored a run in the first inning and two in the third, while Hemet had a three-run second, and the two runs in the sixth to improve their overall record to 2-6, 1-0 MPL. The win breaks a six-game skid for the Bulldogs in which they went 0-5 in the tough Newport Elks tournament.
Though they’ve had their struggles, Necochea believes the Bulldogs are rounding into shape just in time for league play.
“We are mostly about defense and pitching, but our hitting without a doubt was the best so far this year,” he said. “It’s all starting to come together.”
Hemet pounded out seven hits, led by Dotinga, who was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and Harrison Garcia, 2-3 with a double and run scored. San Jacinto had six hits with Evans leading the way, scoring twice and going 3-3 with two doubles.
Though the loss was a disappointing start in league play, Zepek still believes his Tigers (3-3, 0-1 MPL) will be in the running for an MPL title along with Hemet and Tahquitz (3-4, 1-0) as the three frontrunners, he said.
“We’re three and three (record) now and lost two games in the seventh innings against good teams,” he said. “We’ve been playing well. We are going to have strong pitching with Austin Covington (0-1, 2.68 ERA) who was first-team, all-league last year as our ace. Charles Odin (2-1, .058 ERA) came in today and took the loss, but he’s been throwing well all winter, and we’ve got Steven Velarde (1-1, one save) throwing well this year.”
On the offensive side, the Tigers carry a .314 team batting average, and are led by Velarde, who has a .500 average and six RBI’s; Andrew Stone, .467 average and three RBIs; Evans, .400 average, four RBI’s and three doubles; Paul Rodriguez, .357 average and six runs scored; Steve Lara, .353 average and four runs, and Merlin Torres and Oden, who have each produced four RBI’s. Next week, Hemet hosts Citrus Hill on Tuesday, and travels to Beaumont on Thursday. While San Jacinto is at Beaumont, Tuesday, and hosts West Valley on Thursday. Games are scheduled for 3:15 p.m.