Despite holding a slim 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning, the Anzar Hawks baseball team lost their league opener to Gonzales Wednesday 14-5 in San Juan Bautista.
The Spartans plated 10 runs in the sixth and seventh innings alone behind just four hits, and spoiled Anzar's first game in the Mission Trail Athletic League.
The Hawks are 0-1 in the MTAL, 2-2 overall. They'll play at Gonzales on Friday.
"The first three to four innings, we looked like we could beat anyone in this league," assistant coach Leroy Dozal said. "We need to play to win. We don't have that hard edge to go out there and beat somebody."
Miscues and walks led to the Spartans taking the lead late in the game, whereas Anzar couldn't string any hits together in the last two innings.
The Hawks grabbed a 5-2 lead after a four-run third inning where they capitalized on three Gonzales errors, a hit-by-pitch and a balk on the Spartan pitcher.
In that inning, freshmen Adam Huaracha and Justin Borba each connected for RBI singles, and both would later score in the inning.
But while Anzar committed just three errors, compared to Gonzales' five, four Hawks pitchers issued a combined nine walks and hit three batsmen.
"It was 5-2 and we got a little too comfortable," Dozal said. "Every guy out there (for Gonzales) was playing to win. They stood out there playing to win, playing to catch us."
Hawks starter Devon Parrish threw five innings and allowed four runs on four hits, striking out six. Relievers Huaracha, Adam Wilkinson and Paolo Marra-Biggs finished the game for Anzar.
Freshman Tanner McKinney had a 3-for-3 day at the plate and Blake Selsor was 2-for-4 for Anzar, which will have another chance at Gonzales on Friday.
"We're hoping to turn it around," Dozal said.
First pitch is at 3:30 p.m., in Gonzales.
GON 101 205 5 - 14 8 5
ANZ 014 000 0 - 5 8 3
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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Highlights of Friday's game against Alisal now available