MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – Having prevailed over Biggs twice last week, the Maxwell baseball team remained unbeaten in the Mid-Valley League.
Coming into the first game of the series with the Wolverines on Apr. 14, Maxwell scratched out the contest’s only run in the bottom of the sixth to claim the 1-0 victory.
One of the few pitcher’s duels in the Northern Section this season, the game pitted the Panther’s Yahir Alcaraz against the Biggs’ David Ibarra and the matchup didn’t disappoint as Maxwell coach Tyler Wells confirmed.
“Great pitching effort from both teams,” said Wells. “Yaya (Alcaraz) attacked the zone. He commanded his off-speed and threw it early in counts to get ahead. But credit to their guy as well. He made big pitches in big situations.
However, the Panthers, who had stranded runners in nearly every inning were finally able to break through thanks to some timely hitting and a bit of luck.
Alcaraz led off the frame with a single up the middle, then after an unproductive out, automatically advanced to second after a ball in dirt got caught in the Biggs’ catcher’s chest protector, which is considered out of play.
The next batter, Alex Krug, singled, but pinch runner Eddie Izquierdo was held up at third, bringing Colt Montgomery to the plate.
Montgomery then proceeded to hit the ball to the right side allowing what would be the winning run to score.
For Wells, Montgomery, with his workmanlike approach is one of the team’s unsung heroes, as he explained, “Colt does the dirty work and sometimes it gets taken for granted. He is a machine behind the plate and did the job today knocking in that run.”
Still, the Panthers had to hold on in the top of the seventh and were able to after Alcaraz overcame an error and a hit batsman by inducing a game-ending 1-6-3 double play.
Maxwell has been cautious with Alcaraz this season due to a lingering arm injury, but according to Wells has built up his strength and showed he can be a force after going the distance, where he surrendered just one hit while striking out six.
Yet to keep Biggs off the bases, the Panther defense turned in some nice plays as well, none bigger than two smashes that third baseman Massey Baker turned into outs.
At the plate, Krug finished 2 for 3 with a double and also drew praise from Wells in the game’s aftermath.
“Alex is turning it on offensively as of late,” Wells said. “He has turned into a middle of the order guy for us. He has also come a long way at first base. He made a couple of plays today that were game changing.”
Following the shutout win at home, Maxwell made the trip to Biggs on Apr. 18, where it put six runs on the board in the top of the fifth to break the game open and emerge with the 9-5 victory.
Alcaraz did his part again, this time at the plate where he went 2 for 3 including the Panthers’ only extra base hit, which happened to be a home run.
Landon Barrett finished 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI, while Krug, Montgomery and Vincent Orozco collected one knock apiece.
Baker tossed six and a third innings of two-hit ball fanning 13 before giving way to Wyatt Roach who closed out the frame.
This week, Maxwell (13-2, 6-0) traveled to Sutter on Apr. 22 to face the Huskies before beginning play at the Durham Tournament that runs from Apr. 25 and 26.