Colton clashes with Arroyo Valley at San Manuel Stadium, wins 3-1
Game MVP Raymond Ramirez strikes out 10 in five innings; Damian Valdez goes 3-for-4 with two RBI
Sophomore Raymond Ramirez pitched struck out 10 and only gave up one run in five innings at the County Clash game against Arroyo Valley on April 2.
San Bernardino, CA—On Saturday night, San Manuel Stadium served as the setting for this year’s County Clash event. The 6-5 Yellowjackets faced the 4-9 Arroyo Valley Hawks in this Arrowhead Conference matchup, with Colton taking the victory 3-1.
“They were a little nervous. I could feel that they had nerves. It showed,” manager Scott Mendoza said about his team playing under the professional lights.
Those nerves settled down with Raymond Ramirez on the mound. The sophomore ace pitched five innings, giving up only one run on four hits and striking out 10. This earned him MVP honors for the game.
“I came into the game with confidence, and my team kept picking me up,” Ramirez said. “It’s dope, playing out here.”
Ramirez struck out the side in the first inning, then shortstop Damian Valdez, who finished the game 3-4, got things started on offense with a single to left field. Third baseman Juan Valdivia drove Valdez in to put the Yellowjackets up 1-0.
Hits by Donovan Mendoza, Ramirez, kept Colton on the basepads, but Arroyo Valley’s defense stranded 11 baserunners.
It wasn’t until the fourth inning that Colton struck again, taking advantage of mistakes made by the Hawks. Walks and wild pitches put Anthony Corral and Junior Muro into scoring position, then Valdez beat out the throw to first on an infield single to first that led to a costly error, scoring both baserunners to put Colton up 3-0.
The Hawks threatened in the second and third innings, but strong defense by catcher Anthony Corral caught Hawks’ Roger Breceda in a pickle to end the second, and an impressive sliding catch by Isaac Bustillos in the third saved a bases clearing hit by Julio Acero.
Ramirez finally hit a snag in the top of the sixth, giving up back-to-back doubles to Acero and Miguel Acosta that gave the Hawks their only run. Colton reliever Roman Torrero came in and put the game to bed. He allowed no hits and struck out three in his two innings of work.
The Yellowjackets were hyped to get this victory on the professional diamond. After the game, Damian Valdez was clear about his hopes for this team: “I’m pretty sure we’ll go far in the playoffs if we keep doing what we’re doing.”
Mendoza shared those hopes: “If we play the way we’re capable of playing, we shouldn’t lose a game in the second half.”
The second half of the season starts on Tuesday in Bloomington, as the Yellowjackets travel to take on the Bruins in the first of back-to-back games against their district rival.
Notes: Two other games were played at this year’s County Clash event. In the first game, the Summit Skyhawks defeated the Jurupa Hills Spartans, 1-0. In the second game, the Cajon High Cowboys defeated the Citrus Valley Blackhawks, 4-2.
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