MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
SAN BENITO — The San Benito Greyhounds are no strangers to close games this district season, so they were right at home in their latest outing.
After erasing a 3-0 deficit and taking a one-run lead in the bottom of the third inning, San Benito Greyhound relief pitcher Erik Arizpe held the Harlingen Hawks scoreless the next four innings, securing a 4-3 win for the ’Hounds Tuesday night in San Benito.
While Greyhound head coach Ram Partida enjoyed the win, the tight games and cold bats early in games has been a too close for comfort.
“Erik came in and did a great job to pick up a win, but looking at that big inning, our kids keep fighting and that’s something we need to keep doing,” Partida said. “I tell the kids not to test the waters to see if it’s hot or if it’s cold, just jump in and have fun—that’s one thing we have to learn at the plate.”
The win evens out the Greyhounds’ district record at 3-3, while South falls to 1-5.
Arizpe fanned seven and tossed five scoreless innings while holding South to just three hits in relief of starting pitcher Alfonso Mireles.
“We have to give credit to San Benito, but my kids are trying,” South head coach Tony Leal said. “I take the losses, but I feel my kids played almost as well as they could. We came up short, but I’m not disappointed in the effort tonight against a really good ballclub.”
South came out strong at the plate, opening up a 3-0 lead following a two-run homer from outfielder Alec Garza to deep left field in the top of the third inning.
With two on and one out in the bottom of the third and South relief pitcher on the mound, San Benito’s Alvaro Vargas got the ‘Hounds on the board with a two RBI single, bringing in Jestin Cepeda and Tony Gonzalez.
David Vargas brought in Alvaro Vargas moments later with an RBI single of his own to tie the game at three.
Later in the inning, a Joseph Partida RBI drove in David Vargas for what proved to be the winning run.
Reasor took the loss, but rebounded from a tough third inning to toss three scoreless innings of his own while striking out three.