By Fred J. Robledo, SGVN
La Puente reliever Raymond Sedillo could hear the chatter in the Sierra Vista dugout after giving up a run in the seventh and walking the Dons’ Giovanni Rivera, putting the game-tying runner on first with only out.
But Sedillo didn’t flinch.
With Rivera inching toward second, Sedillo picked him off then finished the game with a called third strike to preserve La Puente’s 6-5 victory over three-time defending Montview League champion Sierra Vista on Friday.
Sierra Vista hammered La Puente 9-2 earlier in the week to move into a first-place tie in the Montview League with the Warriors, but La Puente (11-8, 7-1) moved back in first after breaking a 4-4 tie with two runs in the seventh to get the victory, dropping the Dons to 11-5 and 6-2. (To continue click thread)
“That pick-off was the play of the game,” Warriors coach John Hermosillo said. “That’s something we keyed on after losing the last game because they had about four stolen bases and we worked on that tremendously in practice and it (pick-off) was a big out. It was a game-winner for sure.”
La Puente’s Randy Anaya belted two towering homers to right and finished with three RBIs.
Anaya belted a two-run shot in the first to stake the Warriors to a 2-0 lead, and belted a solo shot in the fifth that put them in front, 4-3.
“Those (home runs) were huge and he’s been working so hard this year,” Hermosillo said of Anaya. “He’s been struggling at the plate but I’m so happy for the kid. Those weren’t cheap shots, they were good pokes.”
La Puente led 3-0 early, but the Dons kept battling back and kept the Warriors within striking distance.
Sierra Vista’s Macrin Gallardo tied the score with a two-out double in the fifth that brought in Oscar Huerta to tie the score, 4-4.
The Warriors answered back in the seventh with Michael Patini and Ivan Vasquez opening with back-to-back singles. After Anaya walked to load the bases, Ryan Franco’s single scored Patini and Vasquez to go up 6-4.
Even with the two-run lead, Hermosillo knew it wouldn’t be easy closing out the Dons.
“They’re a great team and it took all 14 of us to get it done,” Hermosillo said. “It was a team effort. We got some big hits from some big players and made the big play when we needed it because the momentum was starting to turn.”
Dons coach Brett Stevens took it stride.
“They made some big plays and we made some big plays,” Stevens said. “It was befitting of what was at stake.
“But it’s just one game. We both still have a lot of baseball to play so it’s (league title) far from over. Hopefully we’ll be back in it.”
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