DOS PALOS – Through 7 innings of regulation baseball between rivals Firebaugh and Dos Palos on Wednesday afternoon, there wasn’t a run to be had for either team.
Finally, though, the dynamic duo of Chaz Merrell and Gilbert Ramirez came through in the heart of the lineup for the host Broncos.
Batting in the No. 3 spot, Merrell found the right time to get his only hit of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning to set the table for the climactic sequence by Ramirez at cleanup.
“Ramirez, who has been nursing a sore ankle for a couple of weeks, showed no signs of injury as he laced the game-winning single to left center,” Coach Brent Jones said of the 1–0 triumph. “Merrell easily scored the winning run.”
That was all that was needed to deliver the payoff punch for pitcher Jaxon Soares, who allowed just 2 hits and 3 walks while racking up a lucky 13 strikeouts for Dos Palos.
“He was outstanding and in control the entire game,” Jones said of his sophomore hurler. “He threw 20 out of 27 first-pitch strikes.
“We have been stressing the importance of getting ahead of the hitters.”
That importance was realized on the flip side as Broncos batters found themselves down 0–1 in 27 of their 31 at-bats.
That was due to Firebaugh freshman Adriel Lopez, who stood out for the Eagles with his 7 shutout innings before allowing that lone run in the eighth.
“Adriel has solidified himself as our clear No. 1 on our squad,” Eagles coach Joey Ochoa said. “He has a bright future ahead of him. We’re a young squad and can only continue to improve.”
Firebaugh fell to 5–15, 2–2 in the West Sierra League after a loss Friday at Mendota.
Dos Palos (9–13 overall) stayed perfect atop the WSL at 6–0 after winning another 1-run game, this time a 2–1 home victory against Coalinga on Friday that had Dos Palos displaying their prowess on the basepaths.
“We scored our first run when Gilbert stole home, aka a “Jackie Robinson” play, as the catcher was releasing the ball back to the pitcher,” said Jones, whose team gave up a run in the top of the sixth that leveled the score at 1-all. “The winning run by Trevin Vincent (in the bottom of the sixth) came home on a bases-loaded balk.”
Vincent was also dominant on the mound, ringing up the Horned Toads 11 times on the day. The senior right-hander allowed one run off 2 hits and 2 walks in the complete game victory.
Dos Palos played on Tuesday at Avenal. The Broncos then host Avenal on Friday and Tranquillity on Tuesday.
“We’re really starting to play well and hitting our stride,” said Jones, whose team has won 5 games in a row and 6 of 7. “We moved some guys around positions, and we feel like we got a pretty solid base now with pitching and defense.” Firebaugh was at Coalinga on Tuesday and then will travel to Tranquility on Friday and Washington Union on Saturday. The Eagles end with three games at home against Caruthers on Monday, Avenal on Tuesday and the rematch with Dos Palos on Ma
