Mustangs take lead in SWYL
| Thursday, Apr 02 2009 09:41 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Apr 02 2009 09:41 PM
Stockdale came in as the champion of the Central Section and with a history of pummeling the opposition.
Ridgeview was the challenger, once lightly regarded but becoming a contender with a decision over former champ Centennial last week.
Consider this one a first-round TKO.
That's a heavy-handed analogy for baseball, but it fit Thursday as the Mustangs beat Ridgeview 16-0 behind Philip Valos' one-hitter and seven extra-base hits.
"We ran the bases, we swung the bats, and Philip was on the mound, which is a great feeling," Stockdale coach Dan Lemon said. "I'm really pleased with the way we're playing right now."
Valos (7-0) was magnificent even though he rarely threw anything but his fastball and cut fastball. He struck out the first two batters he faced on three pitches and didn't allow a hit until Fernando MacHado hit a clean single to right field to lead off the seventh.
"The fastball was working," said Valos, who finished with nine strikeouts, a walk and three hit batters. "I was just working on mechanics. We wanted to make sure they didn't upset us. We made sure we brought our game today."
Valos was backed by Stockdale's powerful offense operating at full capacity. Second baseman Kyle Desimone was 3-for-3 with a triple, a home run, three RBIs and four runs for the Mustangs (13-2, 3-0 SWYL), who took sole possession of the SWYL lead when Centennial beat North on Thursday. Scott Denesha was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Tyler Boren was 2-for-4 with a solo home run.
And right fielder Isaiah Turner, who transferred to Stockdale from Ridgeview last year, also homered in his return to the Wolf Pack's home field.
It was impressive, even if it came on a day when ace pitcher Machado was resting a sore back for Ridgeview (9-5, 2-2).
"That's the worst game we've played all year," Ridgeview coach Jason Hunsaker said. "We started off bad, and if you start bad against a team like that, they're gonna take advantage."
