By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
The Pace Vikings got their offense going in the first inning, and it helped propel them to an 18-0 defeat of St. Joseph Academy in a shortened, three-inning non-district game Tuesday at Pace.
The Vikings sent 16 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs during the bottom of the first inning. Pace used five hits, including a two-run single by Mario Andrade and back-to-back RBI singles by Alex Cisneros and Santos Rodriguez, and five walks to build a quick lead.
“We’ve been hitting the ball well in scrimmages and put on a show (during a tournament) in Corpus (Christi),” Pace coach Ruben Aynes said. “The guys are seeing the ball better. They’re believingin the philosophy we’re teaching, and it’s starting to show.”
During the second inning, the Vikings continued their offensive outburst, putting eight more runs across the plate.
The Vikings had six walks in the inning, Daniel Macias and Rodriguez each had two-run doubles and Cisneros drew a walk to score another run.
The game was shortened because St. Josephwas running low on pitching arms and Pace already had a sizable early lead.
“It was a chance to teach our guys to be classy,” Aynes said. “We’re both class act programs, and that’s what we did.”
The Bloodhounds struggled to find their control on the mound as St. Josephused three different pitchers to try and slow down the Vikings’ bats.
“This is what happens when you walk people. It doesn’t help out your team or your defense,” St. Josephcoach Gus Henggler said. “We have to throw the ball over the plate and let them hit it so our defense can work.”
Rigo Rubio pitched three innings, allowed zero runs, one hit, walked two and struck out seven for Pace in the victory.
“Our philosophy is pitching, defense, timely hitting,” Aynes said. “This was an opportunity to come out get some valuable reps. Wegot rained out during our last two games at Corpus, so we didn’t play for a good stretch of time.”
Asturo Trevino hit a double for the Bloodhounds’ only hit, but he was stranded at third base after a strikeout by the next St.Joseph batter during the first inning.
Despite the setback, Henggler said his team will use the game as a learning experience.
“Things are going to go bad, and (it’s) how we react to it,” he said. “The kids didn’t quit, and they weren’t putting their heads down. We have to keep playing and stay (together) with the team.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @andrewmcrum.