Baldwin Park, Sierra Vista Baseball Teams Going in Opposite Directions

The Baldwin Park Braves baseball team avoided a winless league campaign as it split its two meetings against league frontrunner Nogales, falling 4-1 Wednesday, and then bounced back Friday to rout the Nobles 10-2, handing Nogales its first league setback of the season.

Erik Gonzalez pitched a complete game to help the Nobles (18-5, 7-1) win 4-1 in Wednesday’s game.  Gonzalez gave up the Braves’ only run in the first inning, and then struck out the side in the second and third innings to shut down the Braves.  Baldwin Park, however did threaten in the sixth inning, but Nogales was able to get out of the jam behind solid pitching.

Baldwin Park struck first, as Anthony Franco reached and will eventually score on Ben Fonseca’s RBI single.  Fonseca would be the Braves’ only Bright spot, going 2 for 2 with the RBI.

Nogales would score three times in the fifth inning to take the 4-1 lead, which would be the difference in the game.

It was a completely different story Friday, as Bernardo Flores would pitch a complete game himself to help the Braves (7-12-1, 1-7) avenge Wednesday’s loss in a 10-2 win.

Flores gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits, five strikeouts and four walks.  He also hit three batters.

Timothy Wells led the way for the Braves, going 3 for 4 with two RBI’s and a run scored.  Fonseca once again had the hot bat, going 3 for 3, scoring one run.

Baldwin Park looks to continue the winning ways as they play Wilson next week.  They will travel to face the Wildcats Wednesday, and then host Friday afternoon’s contest.  First pitch for both games is at 3:15pm

SIERRA VISTA SPLITS WITH LA PUENTE, DROPS LEAGUE LEAD IN 6-5 HEARTBREAKER

Down 6-5, with one out, Sierra Vista’s Giovanni Rivera walked as the potential tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but was then picked off by La Puente reliever Raymond Sedillo, who would then strike out the final batter to preserve the 6-5 victory for the Warriors last Friday.

Sierra Vista (12-5, 7-2) defeated the Warriors last Wednesday 9-2.

La Puente took a 3-0 lead, but Sierra Vista would claw back in the fifth to tie the score at 4-4.  La Puente would answer with two runs of its own to retake the lead at 6-4.

"They made some big plays and we made some big plays," Dons head coach Brett 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."

The Dons bounced back and defeated Ganesha 7-3 Wednesday.