Gladiators open district with 6-1 win over Wolverines
BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
ALAMO — The Roma Gladiators stepped into the arena that was PSJA Memorial High School’s home field and walked out victorious.
The Gladiators and Wolverines kicked off District 31-5A action Monday afternoon with Roma taking home a 6-1 win behind early offense and dominant pitching throughout.
“I know the potential of this team and I know we can be great and make some noise. But we got to come together as a team, and I think now we’re clicking at the right time,” Roma coach Hector Ochoa said. “The scoreboard may not show it, but we’ll be better off throughout the season — one game at a time.”
The Gladiators got started right away and loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, setting up Juan Jaramillo to drive in two RBIs. A passed ball allowed another Roma run to give them an early 3-0 lead.
“Our bats were good to start and our pitcher came out throwing strikes,” Jaramillo said. “It’s important to go on top early. We just have to improve our batting.”
Roma pitcher Raul Resendez was in control for the majority of the game as the senior struck out eight batters and didn’t surrender a run until the game’s final inning. Resendez said the run support received before even stepping on the mound inspired him.
“It motivated me to throw strikes and strike them out, so I can get out of innings and get our offense back out there,” he said. “I was feeling good with my fastball, because they were putting the curveball in play, but they were having trouble with the fastball.”
Carlos Contreras found a way to give the Wolverines some life in the bottom of the seventh inning as his two-out single led to a bases loaded situation for Joaquin Sanchez. A base-hit by Sanchez allowed Contreras to cross the plate for a PSJA Memorial run, but Gerardo Cortez came in for the Gladiators to get the final out and end the game.
PSJA Memorial coach Marcus Galaviz felt his team did well to start and close the game, but they need to keep the intensity and energy up from the first pitch to the last pitch.
“We’re going to work on the little things, and the good thing is we got a quick bounce back and we’re looking forward to the new series playing the same team back-to-back,” Galaviz said. “They know what we can do, we know what they can do. It’s just who’s going to come out with the energy and attitude and who’s going to have the confidence out there. Hopefully, we get the kids going in the right direction and this week we’ll end up tied with them 1-1.”
Roma (1-0) and PSJA Memorial (0-1) will meet again at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Roma High School for Game 2 of the District 31-5A series.