BASEBALL: Montebello tops Alhambra in 10th, 4-1

By Keith Lair, Staff Writer
ALHAMBRA - Montebello High School made the most of its Almont League situation on Friday.
The Oilers seemingly matched Alhambra's Noe Ramirez pitch for pitch and finally took advantage when the league's ace reached his pitch count by scoring three runs in the top of the 10th inning for a 4-1 victory at Moor Field. The victory kept the Moors from clinching their fourth consecutive league title.
"With two games left in our league, we needed to play a good game against a good-caliber team to show that we can beat a good team if we play good defense and get timely hitting," Montebello coach Rafael Guiterrez said. "If we take care of business, maybe they can split and we'll share the title with them."
Alhambra needs one victory next week to clinch a share of the title, and its final two if Montebello also wins its final two, to win it outright.
"It's tough, but we still have two games to go," said Martinez, who struck out 11 in eight innings but did not get the decision. "We win those and we'll be all right. It's always a battle with these guys.
"We knew we had a battle the whole game, especially the third game between us."
The Oilers finally came through against reliever Rob Olivarez when Art Carrasco singled with one out. Chris Franco hit the ball up the middle, which second baseman Cody Heaton barely got a glove on, but it skidded into center field. Carrasco barely beat the throw to third. Tony Estrella took the first pitch to left-center field for a two-run double and scored on a Jonathan Beltran wild pitch.
"Coaches told me to drop down to bunt on the second pitch," Estrella said. "They gave me the green light on the first pitch and I said if I could drive it, to drive it. And then I got that fat pitch. I said I'm going to bring him in there."
Andrew Quintero kept the Moors honest while giving up a run on seven hits through 5 2/3 innings. He was replaced by Montebello ace Chris Franco, who threw his maximum two innings. He was replaced again by Quintero, who went the final 1 1/3 innings for the win.
"(Quintero) showed a lot by coming back," Guiterrez said. "He hasn't pitched that much this year. He came in and held them honest. And then he came back tired and battled. It was a valiant effort."
The Oilers really had the better opportunities to win in regulation. In the first inning, Franco, who went 4-for-5, singled but eventually was thrown out at the plate on a passed ball. In the sixth, Montebello tied it and could have won it outright there. James Mesa's single drove in Estrella, who was on base with a fielder's choice, and Rudy Gama sent a Ramirez pitch down the left-field line.
But Mesa tripped before he reached second base and had to settle on third on a hit where he certainly would have scored. They were left stranded.
"When our kid fell at second, it was, 'Why again?'" Guiterrez said.
"It's so frustrating."
Ramirez scored Alhambra's lone run in the fourth. He singled, was sacrificed to second and Greg Saldate doubled him home. The Moors also could have ended it in the sixth. Heaton singled but was thrown out trying to extend it to a double. Ramirez got on via error and Joshua Devore doubled for runners on second and third. But Guiterrez sent in Franco, and he got a strikeout to end the threat.
"We've been struggling at that lately," Ramirez said of getting timely hits. "Those hits will come through. Well get 'em."