DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — In a dramatic slugfest that featured 31 hits between the two teams, La Joya High and La Joya Palmview went to work late Thursday to produce a District 30-6A classic.
The Coyotes rallied from a four-run sixth inning deficit to upend the Lobos 13-12 at La Joya Palmview High. Trailing 12-11 heading into the seventh, pinch-runner Julian Castillo scored on a passed ball with no outs to tie the game before fellow reserve Juan Rodriguez scored the go-ahead run moments later when relief pitcher Jesus Guzman overthrew first baseman Mario Hinojosa.
Reliever Anibal Leal dismissed Palmview’s 4-5-6 hitters in order after allowing a leadoff single to close matters in the bottom of the frame.
The win lifted La Joya High to 11-5, 2-1 in 30-6A. Palmview dropped to 8-7-1, 1-1 in district.
“We battled,” first-year Coyotes coach Alex Guajardo said. “There were some times we were down in the count, but we kept on fighting. We always found a way to put the ball in play.”
La Joya High produced 22 hits. Ryan Lopez went 4-for-5 with a RBI. Isaac Garces produced a clutch two-run double down the third base line in the sixth that cut a 10-6 deficit to 10-8. Starting pitcher Jose Delgado went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Esteban Prado went 3-for-3 with two RBIs as the Coyotes benefited from consistent production all throughout the lineup.
It wasn’t necessarily bad pitching from either team. The Lobos and Coyotes hit, and hit hard, and capitalized on the other’s mistakes when they happened.
“It was nerve-wracking, but our kids kept their composure and they did what they needed to do,” Guajardo said. “Our motto is to always battle. No matter what. Our kids buy in. The kids have been great, receptive.”
Palmview was more efficient with its offense, but errors, particularly in the final two innings, hampered the inexperienced ballclub. Garces’ hit in the sixth, for instance, came when starter Elias Ovalle threw the wrong pitch.
Coach Rick Garcia wanted a wasted outside pitch with two strikes and one out, but Garcia threw it inside, where Garces was more than happy to take advantage.
“He threw something we didn’t call,” Garcia said. “That’s a kid (Garces) that is sitting on the fastball and anything inside.
“It’s mistakes like that, and when we do that we’re going to lose games. Especially close games.”
Unofficially, Palmview had five errors to La Joya’s four.
Palmview did not score in the first and seventh innings, but it was the final frame that mattered. Leal earned the win by throwing the final three innings.
“I just tried to throw strikes, and as the game got on I started dominating my corners,” said Leal, who improved to 3-0. “That’s a great team that can really hit the ball. They make you really pitch.
“But we didn’t give up, until the last out.”