Baseball hits stride going into season’s final month
By Matt PetersenThe only disappointing aspect for the Gauchos' baseball team this season have been the empty bleachers, thus far. And the absent fans are the ones missing out.
As of Monday, April 1st, the Gauchos had won 11 of their last 14 games overall, including five of six regional matches. Glendale holds first place in the ACCAC Division II with less than a month remaining in the regular season. The wins are piling up in all shapes and sizes for Glendale, but one looks just as good as another when all is said and done.
On March 19, the Gauchos hosted the Gateway Geckoes, whom they had beaten twice before in the season (3-1, 8-4). This outing proved to be tedious for both teams. The Geckoes were continually frustrated when they were in scoring position, leaving nine runners stranded in the game. Starting pitcher Pedro Ramos, a freshman from Centennial High School, pitched the entire game, striking out five and walking one.
Right-fielder Tyler Falco (freshman, Horizon High School) scored the game's only run after getting on base thanks to ball four.
After stealing second and advancing to third off of a groundout, Falco reached home courtesy of a sacrifice fly by first-baseman Thomas Brendel (Sophomore, Barry Goldwater High School).
Glendale wouldn't score again, but didn't have to, as they came away victors, 1-0.
Such low-scoring affairs have become common-place for the Gauchos. Before the Gateway game, they had played ten games decided by one run, losing seven of them.
"We've been through our fair share of heartbreakers," admitted second baseman Taylor McGregor (Sophomore, Sunrise Mountain High School).
Coming to terms with the reality that they themselves are not a consistent high-scoring team has been one of the keys to their success this season.
Head coach Dave Grant explained, "We're not a heavy-hitting team. We try to get on base and advance however we can, 'cause that's how we've got to do it."
Glendale's lack of firepower caught up with them two days later, when they hosted conference-worst Mesa Community College on March 21.
Mesa pitcher Matt Ortiz had no trouble with the Glendale hitters, going one-two-three from the second through the sixth innings.
By the time starting pitcher Chase Lehr was relieved by Michael Nunez at the top of the sixth, Mesa had scored four runs, which would be all they would need on the way to a 4-0 victory.
Glendale avenged the loss the next day at Mesa, winning 6-3. The Gauchos' ability to learn from their mistakes and turn around their performances may be what translates the regular-season marathon into a successful sprint come playoff time. As it is, they're on quite a run.
